Liverpool Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Liverpool Cathedral |
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| Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool | |
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Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, St James's Mount
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 Liverpool Cathedral
Location in Liverpool
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| 53°23′51″N 2°58′23″W / 53.39750°N 2.97306°W | |
| Location | Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Tradition | Central churchmanship |
| History | |
| Dedication | Christ |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Sir Giles Gilbert Scott |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1904–1978 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 188.67 m (619.0 ft) |
| Nave width | 35.3 m (116 ft) |
| Nave height | 35.3 m (116 ft) |
| Choir height | 35.3 m (116 ft) |
| Number of towers | 1 |
| Tower height | 100.8 m (331 ft)1 |
| Bells | 14 |
| Tenor bell weight | 82-0-11 (4171kg) in A♭ |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Liverpool (since 1880) |
| Province | York |
Liverpool Cathedral is a very large church in Liverpool, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This amazing building is the main church for the bishop of Liverpool. It is also known as the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool.
This cathedral is the biggest church building in Britain. It is also the eighth largest church in the world! It was designed by Giles Gilbert Scott and took a long time to build, from 1904 to 1978. It is the longest cathedral in the world. Its total length is about 188.7 meters.
Liverpool Cathedral is one of the world's tallest church buildings without a spire. It stands at 100.8 meters high. It is also the fourth-tallest building in Liverpool. This cathedral is a very important historic building, listed as Grade I.
Liverpool has two cathedrals. The other one is the Roman Catholic Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. It is about 0.5 miles away. The two cathedrals are connected by Hope Street.
Contents
Building the Cathedral
How it Started
J. C. Ryle became the first Bishop of Liverpool in 1880. But the new church area, called a diocese, did not have a proper cathedral. They used a smaller church, St Peter's, as a temporary cathedral. This church was too small and not very nice.
In 1885, a plan was made to build a new cathedral. A competition was held to find a design. William Emerson won. But the chosen site was not big enough for the huge building they wanted. So, the plan was stopped.
In 1900, Francis Chavasse became the new Bishop. He wanted to build the cathedral. Some church members thought it was too expensive. But Bishop Chavasse believed a great church would show God's presence in the city.
He set up a committee to find a new location. They looked at several places. The best site was St James's Mount. It was perfect because it could be seen from far away and was close to the city center.
People started raising money. A new law was passed in 1902 to buy the land. This law also said that when the new cathedral opened, St Peter's Church would be taken down. Its land would be sold to help pay for the new cathedral. St Peter's Church closed in 1919 and was taken down in 1922.
The Design Competition
In 1901, a competition was held to find an architect for the cathedral. Two famous architects, George Frederick Bodley and Richard Norman Shaw, were chosen to pick the best design.
Architects were asked to submit their work. The designs had to be in the Gothic Revival style. This rule caused some debate. Some people thought it was old-fashioned. But in the end, they agreed to also look at other styles.
Many architects entered the competition. It was a big deal because it was only the third time an Anglican cathedral was built in England since the 1500s.
In 1903, the winner was chosen: 22-year-old Giles Gilbert Scott. He was still a student and had not designed any buildings yet. He even said his biggest work was designing a pipe-rack! The committee was surprised to learn Scott was Roman Catholic, but they stuck with their decision.
Scott's Early Work
Even though Scott was young, he knew a lot about church design. His grandfather and father were famous church architects. The committee decided to have Bodley help Scott with the detailed design.
Work started quickly. King Edward VII laid the first stone in 1904. Scott and Bodley did not always agree. Scott felt Bodley was often away. When Bodley died in 1907, Scott became the main architect.
Scott's New Design (1910)
In 1909, Scott created a completely new design for the main part of the cathedral. His first design had two towers at the front. The new plan had one large central tower. It also had two side sections called transepts. The committee was surprised by these big changes. But they approved the new plans in 1910. Scott also made the style more modern.
The Lady Chapel
The Lady Chapel was the first part of the cathedral to be finished. It was officially opened in 1910. This chapel was built to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Lady Chapel has beautiful stained glass windows. These windows show women who made important contributions to society. Some of these women include:
- Julian of Norwich, a theologian.
- Susanna Wesley, mother of Methodism.
- Elizabeth Fry, a social reformer.
- Josephine Butler, a feminist.
- Queen Victoria, a famous queen.
- Grace Darling, who helped rescue shipwrecked people.
- Kitty Wilkinson, who opened the first public washhouse in Liverpool.
- Agnes Jones, the first trained nursing superintendent in Liverpool.
- Anna Hinderer, a missionary.
- Mary Ann Rogers, a ship stewardess who saved passengers.
Building Continues
Work slowed down during the First World War (1914-1918). There were not enough workers or materials. By 1920, work picked up again. The pinkish-red sandstone for the building came from quarries in Woolton.
The first main section of the cathedral was finished by 1924. This included the chancel, an ambulatory, and other rooms. On July 19, 1924, the cathedral was officially opened. King George V and Queen Mary attended the ceremony.
Work continued steadily from 1925. They hoped to finish the whole central section by 1940. But the Second World War (1939-1945) caused more delays. The building was even damaged by German bombs. Despite this, the central section was mostly finished by July 1941. Scott laid the last stone of the tower in 1942.
Finishing the Cathedral
Scott died in 1960. The first part of the main area, called the nave, was almost done. Frederick Thomas took over as architect. He designed a new west front for the cathedral.
The cathedral was finally completed in October 1978. A special service was held with Queen Elizabeth II. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, Derek Worlock, also took part. This showed a spirit of friendship between the different churches in Liverpool.
Inside the Cathedral
The cathedral is huge!
- It is about 188.7 meters long.
- The tower is 100.8 meters high.
- The main ceiling (vault) is 36.5 meters high.
The cathedral is mostly built from local sandstone. Each stone block inside is slightly different. This is said to symbolize God's love for each person.
The belltower is one of the largest and tallest in the world. It holds the highest and heaviest set of ringing bells. These bells are called the Bartlett Bells. There are 13 of them.
The tower also has a very large bell called "Great George." It weighs about 14.5 tons. It is the second largest working bell in Britain.
Music and Organ
The cathedral has the largest pipe organ in the UK. It is one of the biggest musical instruments in the world! It has over 10,000 pipes. There are two control panels for the organ. One is high up in the organ case, and the other can be moved around the floor.
The cathedral has a choir that sings during services. Many talented organists and music directors have worked here over the years.
Art and Sculptures
Many artists have contributed to the cathedral. Edward Carter Preston created many sculptures for the cathedral over 30 years.
In 1993, a large bronze sculpture called "The Welcoming Christ" by Elisabeth Frink was placed above the main west door.
In 2008, a pink neon sign by Tracey Emin was installed. It says, "I felt you and I knew you loved me." It was meant to be temporary but is now a permanent feature. Another work by Emin is a small bronze sparrow on a pole. It has been stolen and returned twice!
Stained Glass Windows
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Most of the beautiful stained glass windows were made by the firm James Powell and Sons. The Te Deum window in the east end is very famous. The Lady Chapel windows were damaged during bombing in 1940. They were replaced with new designs based on the originals.
The cathedral has about 1,700 square meters of stained glass. The large north and south windows are each 100 feet tall!
Visiting the Cathedral
The cathedral is open every day. You can attend regular church services. There is a main service on Sundays at 10:30 am.
Admission to the cathedral is free, but donations are suggested. You can park your car there for a fee, but parking is free if you are attending a service. The main floor is easy to access for everyone.
The cathedral also hosts many events. These include concerts, school events, graduations, and exhibitions. It can hold up to 3,500 people standing.
The cathedral even has its own special police force, called the Liverpool Cathedral Constables. They help keep the building safe.
Liverpool Cathedral is also featured on a page of the latest British passport design!
Burials
Several important people are buried at the cathedral. These include Bishop Chavasse and the architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The ashes of Thomas Bartlett, who paid for the bells, are also kept in the ringing room.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Merseyside
- Architecture of Liverpool
- Liverpool Cathedral Constables
- Giles Gilbert Scott
