The church was the gift of Francis and James Reynolds of that eminent Liverpool Catholic family of Cotton Brokers. James was conservative member of parliament for Exchange Ward. Francis was the Godfather of the architect of the church, Leonard Stokes. The two brothers, Francis and James also donated the presbytery and school. The total expended on these buildings was £12,000

They suggested St Clare as the patron of the  parish because both their wives were called Clare. The brothers are commemorated in the stained glass window of the Crucifixion which was installed in 1908. At least three of the saints depicted on the side panels of the St Clare’s altarpiece were included because they were the name saints of the joint founders of St Clare’s, the brothers William James and Francis Ecksley Reynolds.