Cathedrals In Merseyside

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King

Liverpool's fine Roman Catholic cathedral is a spectacular modern circular building.  After the consecration of the city's vast new Gothic Anglican cathedral in 1924 (finally completed in 1978), Archbishop Downey decided that the Roman Catholic Church should compete.

He purchased a site for the new cathedral (formerly the site of a huge workhouse) not far from the new Anglican cathedral.  In the 1930s the Archbishop commissioned Sir Edwin Lutyens to design a great domed Baroque cathedral that would be second only to St Peter's in Rome in size and grandeur.

In the 1850s Edward Pugin had designed a cathedral on another site in Liverpool almost as grand but in his father's neo-medieval style. 

Only the Lady Chapel of this cathedral was built and this eventually became Everton's parish church.   In 1939, amid great solemnities, the foundation stone was laid of Lutyens' cathedral and his fine crypt built.   However, construction work was halted by the outbreak of World War II and it soon became obvious that the vast sum of money required to pay for the great cathedral to stand above the crypt would never be found. 

The crypt was opened for use in 1958 by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Heenan.  In the 1960s architects from all over the world were invited to design a new cathedral above ground, to be built within five years and cost only £1million for the shell. 

The winning architect was Sir Frederick Gibberd, an Anglican who had designed London Airport.   Gibberd rejected traditional forms in favour of a strking modern design. 

Work started on the ultramodern cathedral in 1962 and the opening ceremony was held on 14 May 1967.  The architect used Lutyens' crypt as a platform, creating a piazza where Mass can be held outdoors on great occasions.  On the same level he constructed a circular concrete tower, 290 feet high and weighing 2,000 tonnes.  This stark tower stands out boldly and is surmounted by a stylised crown of thorns.  The stained glass lantern was designed by John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens (who also worked on Coventry Cathederal).   By day this floods the circular nave with diffused blueish light and at night shines out. 

Liverpool's cathedrals stand at the two ends of Hope Street and although the modern building did not try and compete with its huge Anglican neighbour it certainly makes a very interesting comparison. In the circluar nave everything is subordinated to the central white marble altar.  The building has far less decoration than older cathedrals in England but a tour around the inner walls reveals many fine works of art.

There is also a superb bronze of Christ by Elizabeth Frink on the altar.

Visitor Cenre with Piazza and Gift Shop

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Features

Ultramodern Cathedral