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Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Frederick Gibberd and Partners, Liverpool, 1967

 

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View showing connection between new building and existing crypt 

Henk Snoek and John Mills     Download Original

  • View showing connection between new building and existing crypt    
  • View of spire next to buttress    
  • The main south entrance seen from Hope Street    
  • View from the rooftop towards the Anglican Cathedral    
  • The main entrance porch as seen from a corner of the podium    
  • The great central lantern with the glass symbolising the trinity    
  • A general view of the interior with main entrance to the right    
  • Interior showing vivid blue glazing    
  • View of the north west corner showing structural supports    
  • Site plan showing other Cathedral locations    
  • Site plan    
  • Lower ground floor plan    
  • Ground floor plan    
  • Long section    
  • Section through chapel of the blessed sacrament    
  • Section through entrance porch and bell tower    
  • Structural diagram showing initial section and later additions in section    

A Modern Catholic Cathedral that sits on raised ground in central Liverpool, in direct contrast to Giles Gilbert Scott's Gothic revival Anglican Cathedral

The design was a winner of an international competition judged by Basil Spence and Cardinal Heenan. The brief required that the altar and the celebration of Mass could be seen by entire 2,000 strong congregation.

Internally the Portland stone-clad Cathedral is a single 16-sided space with the altar in the exact centre, emphasized externally and internally concrete-ribbed lantern of stained glass, which tapers to a crown of pinnacles 88m above the ground.

The lantern stands on 16 very large reinforced-concrete boomerang-shaped supports clad in white mosaic.

Data

  • Begun: Sep 1962
  • Completed: May 1967
  • Sector: Religious
  • Total cost: £1M
  • Address: Metropolitan Cathedral, Cathedral House, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, L3 5TQ, United Kingdom

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