Liverpool Cathedral — Attraction in Liverpool

Liverpool Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in the city of Liverpool, England. It is the seat of the bishop of Liverpool and is the mother church of the diocese of Liverpool. The church may be formally referred to as the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool.[1] It is the largest cathedral and religious building in Britain,[2] and the eighth largest church in the world.

The cathedral is based on a design by Giles Gilbert Scott and was constructed between 1904 and 1978. It is the longest cathedral in the world;[3] the total external length of the building, including the Lady Chapel (dedicated to the Blessed Virgin), is 207 yards (189 m), its internal length is 160 yards (150 m). In terms of overall volume, Liverpool Cathedral ranks as the fifth-largest cathedral in the world[4] and contests with the incomplete Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City for the title of largest Anglican church building.[5] With a height of 331 feet (101 m) it is also one of the world's tallest non-spired church buildings and the fourth-tallest structure in the city of Liverpool. The cathedral is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.[6] The Anglican cathedral is one of two cathedrals in the city. The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King is situated approximately 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to the north. The cathedrals are linked by Hope Street, which takes its name from William Hope, a local merchant whose house stood on the site now occupied by the Philharmonic Hall, and was named long before either cathedral was built.

J. C. Ryle was installed as the first Bishop of Liverpool in 1880, but the new diocese had no cathedral, merely a "pro-cathedral", the parish church of St Peter in Church Street. St Peter's was unsatisfactory; it was too small for major church events, and moreover was, in the words of the Rector of Liverpool, "ugly & hideous".[7] In 1885 an Act of Parliament authorised the building of a cathedral on the site of the existing St John's Church, adjacent to St George's Hall.[8] A competition was held for the design, and won by William Emerson. The site proved unsuitable for the erection of a building on the scale proposed, and the scheme was abandoned.[8] In 1900 Francis Chavasse succeeded Ryle as Bishop, and immediately revived the project to build a cathedral.[9] There was some opposition from among members of Chavasse's diocesan clergy, who maintained that there was no need for an expensive new cathedral. The architectural historian John Thomas argues that this reflected "a measure of factional strife between Liverpool Anglicanism's very Evangelical or Low Church tradition, and other forces detectable within the religious complexion of the new diocese."[10] Bishop Chavasse, though himself an Evangelical, regarded the building of a great church as "a visible witness to God in the midst of a great city".[10] He pressed ahead, and appointed a committee under William Forwood to consider all possible sites. The St John's site being ruled out, Forwood's committee identified four locations: St Peter's and St Luke's, which were, like St John's, found to be too restricted; a triangular site at the junction of London Road and Monument Place;[n 1] and St James's Mount.[11] There was considerable debate about the competing merits of the two possible sites, and Forwood's committee was inclined to favour the London Road triangle. However, the cost of acquiring it was too great, and the St James's Mount site was recommended.[11] An historian of the cathedral, Vere Cotton,...

Located in the heart of Liverpool, the cathedral stands as a timeless testament to architectural grandeur and spiritual devotion. The Liverpool Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool, is a majestic structure that commands attention with its soaring spires and details. Approaching the cathedral, one is immediately struck by the awe-inspiring height of its facade, which pierce the sky like ancient sentinels guarding the entrance. Stained glass windows, depicting vibrant biblical-like stories, filter the sunlight into a kaleidoscope of colors that dance across the stone floor. The cathedral's architecture presents itself as a fusion between traditional Gothic elements and modern touches, creating a harmonious blend of the old and the new. The high-vaulted ceilings create a sense of openness, while the intricate ribbed arches overhead add a touch of medieval elegance. The air is infused with the scent of aged wood and polished stone, creating an atmosphere of reverence and contemplation. As you wander through the side chapels, each dedicated to a specific saint or religious theme, you can't help but be captivated by the delicate beauty of the altars and religious artifacts on display.A peacefull and calm retreat, visited by thousands of tourists of all ages and cultures, a place of harmony, religious and spiritual importance for Liverpool. Part of the historical herritage of Merseyside, this building stands tall, overlooking from the distance, the Merseyriver. We were fortunate enough to attend on a Satturday and just before the prayer said by the reverend on that day. Photos speak for themselves. Please enjoy the clip as well, also don t...

Wow oh wow. It dominates the skyline but what is so unexpected is the sheer mass of the structure. Designed by the same gent, Giles Scott, who did the Grand Midland Hotel St Pancras (as used in Harry Potter) and the iconic red telephone box, it kicked off in 1904 and didnee complete until 1978.....so it is quite new for a Cathedral. Looks amazing, in red sandstone with matching trim....in a gothic revival style......sorry..it is just impressive. And that is just the outside. Inside it seems both cavernous and workmanlike at the same time. The interior decorations are straight out of a fantasy novel and yet you still get the sense of a it being a working space. The whole buildng is impessive without being too ostentatious. Then we come to going up the tower, which has the heaviest bells in the universe..maybe. You do not have to climb the whole way as lifts leave you with just..yes.. just 108 steps to quite a large, flat summit....and some grand views. I am generally ok with heights but the concrete steps cantalever out from the insode of the wall and for some reason are a bit breathtaking but worth it for the vista at the top. We visited after a fantastic meal in Chinatown and needed to work off some calories but if can..and the sky is clear...do it. Accessable but there are some areas with steps. No idea about parking as we left the car behind for the week-end. Like so many things in Liverpool, this was a massive surprise and we so glad we made the effort to climb the hill and the tower. Oh and the guides/volunteers are brilliant and I am sure, could chat with you...