The UK's largest cathedral - Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
The story and appreciation of...
Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, the uk's largest cathedral and 5th largest in the world, is a beautiful example of gothic revival architecture designed by sir Giles Gilbert Scott. described by the poet sir john betjeman as one of the greatest buildings in the world.
inside, its arches are the largest gothic arches ever built, and the cathedral contains the biggest working church organ as well as being the longest cathedral in the world. It also holds the world’s heaviest and highest ringing set of bells, which can be seen while on a behind the scenes tour or during a trip up the cathedral's tower to the top of the building.
The cathedral took 74 years to build, with construction spanning from 1904 to its completion in 1978. Its construction was significantly impacted by both world wars as well as liverpool's economic decline (liverpool also being the most heavily bombed area of the country outside london).
during the september blitz in 1940, a bomb hit near the cathedral, killed four people and caused a significant damage to the cathedral's doors and windows. in 1941, there was a seven night bombardment on the city. during this, liverpool cathedral was was hit by a bomb. it pierced through the roof before being deflected by an inner brick wall and exploding in mid-air, damaging many stained glass windows. another bomb also landed on the front steps luckily without exploding.
the lady chapel was first part of the building to be completed. inside the lady chapel there is a stained glass that features women of various backgrounds and professions, who were considered to have contributed significantly to society. Liverpool's evangelical clergy at the time expressed dismay with the Lady Chapel. The final architect, Frederick Thomas, suggested that they were confronted with "a feminised building which lacked reference to the 'manly' and 'muscular Christian' thinking which had emerged in reaction to the earlier feminisation of religion.
It's one of my favourite cathedrals and I would definitely recommend a visit as entry is free and it's utterly beautiful inside and out! The red sandstone bricks are stunning and the many stained glass windows depict not only biblical scenes, but also contain elements of social and religious history.