Salford Cathedral Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Salford Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St. John the Evangelist
Aerial photograph of Salford Cathedral
Salford Cathedral Location in Greater Manchester
53°29′01″N 2°15′40″W / 53.4836°N 2.2610°W / 53.4836; -2.2610
OS grid reference	grid reference SJ82769857
Location	Salford, Greater Manchester
Country	England
Denomination	Catholic
Tradition	Catholic
Membership	Catholic
Website	[1]
History
Status	Active
Consecrated	1890; 135 years ago (1890)
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II* listed
Architect(s)	Matthew Ellison Hadfield
Style	Gothic Revival and neo-Gothic
Years built	1844–48
Specifications
Number of spires	1
Spire height	73.2 m (240 ft)
Administration
Deanery	Salford
Diocese	Salford (since 1850)
Province	Liverpool (since 1911)

Salford Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of St. John the Evangelist, is a beautiful Catholic cathedral in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It's the main church for the Bishop of Salford and the most important church in the Diocese of Salford. This historic building is so special that it's listed as a Grade II* building.

Building History
Cathedral Organ
Gallery
See also

Building History

Interior of the Cathedral

How the Cathedral Was Built

St. John's Church in Salford was built between 1844 and 1848. The person who designed it was Matthew Ellison Hadfield. He was an architect from Sheffield. Benjamin Hollins of Manchester was the builder.

Hadfield's design for St. John's was very special. It was the first Catholic church in England built in a cruciform (cross-shaped) style since the Reformation. This means it looked like many old medieval churches.

The front part of the church, called the "west" front (which actually faces south), and the main hall, called the nave, were made smaller copies of Howden Minster. This is a famous church in Yorkshire. The area where the choir sings and the altar is, called the sanctuary, was copied from Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire.

The fancy decorations on the arched ceiling, known as the groin vault, were inspired by a church in Liège, Belgium. The tall tower and spire were copied from the church of St Mary Magdalene in Nottinghamshire. When it was built, the spire was the tallest in Lancashire!

Early Funding and Features

Two local businessmen helped pay for the church. Daniel Lee and John Leeming each gave £1,000. This was a lot of money back then! They are remembered in special chapels inside the church.

The large "east" window, made in 1856 by William Wailes, tells a story. It shows the history of Catholic Christianity in England. It starts with St. Augustine converting King Ethelbert in 597. It ends with the Catholic Church being officially re-established in England in 1850. The total cost to build the cathedral was £18,000.

Outside the Cathedral

Becoming a Cathedral

The first stone of the church was laid in 1844. Bishop James Sharples did this important ceremony. The church officially opened on August 9, 1848. Many important bishops attended the first Mass.

St. John's became a cathedral in 1852. This happened after the Diocese of Salford was created in 1850. It was one of the first four Catholic cathedrals in England and Wales since the English Reformation. On July 25, 1851, William Turner became the first Bishop of Salford in St. John's.

Repairs and Changes Over Time

In October 1881, a big storm badly damaged the cathedral's spire. It was 240-foot (73.2 m) tall. Canon Beesley helped raise money to fix the spire and repair the building. He also oversaw the creation of a new chapel in 1884.

By 1890, all the original building costs were paid off. This meant the cathedral could be officially consecrated. Bishop Herbert Vaughan, who later became a Cardinal, led this ceremony.

Salford Cathedral and its impressive spire

In 1919–20, the small towers on the "west" front were falling apart. They had to be taken down and rebuilt. In 1924, a special chapel was opened to remember those who died in World War I. By 1934, the spire was leaning. About 60 feet (18 m) of it had to be removed. Repairs were finished in 1938. More repairs were done after World War II.

The cathedral was updated again in 1971–72. This cost £80,000. A new altar was placed in the middle of the church. This followed changes made by the Second Vatican Council. In 1988, the choir area was changed again. The old stone altar was removed.

A new stained-glass window was put in the west side in 1994. It marked 150 years since the first stone was laid. The window shows Jesus on the cross, with the Virgin Mary and St. John.

More repairs to the outside stone happened in 2007. In 2018, major roof and wall repairs were done to stop leaks.

In November 2021, it was announced that Salford Cathedral would close for a big restoration project. It will be closed until 2024. This project will bring back some of the cathedral's original Victorian look. It will also add a new roof.

Cathedral Organ

A new digital organ was put into the cathedral in 2002. This organ has four keyboards. Digital organs are not common in cathedrals yet. However, this one has many different sounds. It is better than the old one. Its speakers are placed high up in the windows. This helps the choir and people singing.

The current organ replaced an older pipe organ from 1951. Before that, there was an experimental organ from 1938. The very first organ in the cathedral was installed in 1887.

Gallery

Exterior: Salford Cathedral
Exterior: Salford Cathedral
Exterior: Salford Cathedral
Exterior: Salford Cathedral
Salford Cathedral Entrance on Chapel Street - geograph.uk - 3886812.jpg

Exterior: Entrance to the Cathedral
Exterior: Pyramid in St John's Square
Interior: Memorial Chapel
Interior: Nave of the Cathedral
Interior: Memorial Chapel
Exterior: Pyramid in St John's Square

Salford Cathedral facts for kids

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