WIRRAL residents are being invited to take part in a special celebration to mark 200 years since the foundation of St Mary's Church was laid at the site of Birkenhead Priory.

Volunteer Tony Hughes, from Bebington, is looking for photographs, news clippings and memories of the site for an exhibition and special open air service in July.

The foundation stone of St Mary's Church was laid on July 26, 1819 but mystery surrounds the exact site and the time capsule which is believed to have been buried there.

It is believed the capsule could contain coins from the time.

St Mary's Church was built in the grounds of Birkenhead Priory for the town's booming population but sadly closed during the 1970s to be demolished in 1977 with the exception of the tower and grade one listed cast-iron windows, which are the first to have been made for a church in England.

The tower commemorates the 99 victims of the HMS Thetis submarine disaster in 1939.

Birkenhead Priory is believed to be the oldest building in Merseyside having been founded by 16 Benedictine monks in c1150.

Tony told the Globe: "My grandfather Thomas Jones was the caretaker of St Mary’s so as child I attended services there and have fond memories of running around the grounds and generally thinking I was helping him do his job but probably I was causing more work for him!

“Now, as a volunteer guide at Birkenhead Priory I am back on my old stamping ground and almost every week visitors to the Priory tell me tales about St Mary’s Church too.

“People have been kind enough to bring in marriage certificates of relatives married at the church and photographs of various services and church celebrations.

“But now I want more memories, more photographs and more information from people so that in July this year we can have an exhibition of St Mary’s 200 years to go alongside other events planned including a special open air service on what remains of the footprint of the church itself.”

Anyone who has any memories, photographs or artefacts can contact Tony by calling 0151 666 1249, email info@thebirkenheadpriory.org or samanthahiggins@wirral.gov.uk

You can also drop off information at Birkenhead Priory on the following days: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1pm to 5pm or Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm.