Liverpool cathedrals- Anglican Cathedral, Metropolitan CathedralThere are two huge cathedrals, both situated in the East part of the city centre, linked by Hope Street; the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, a historical one, and the Metropolitan Cathedral, a futuristic one. An odd fact is that the old looking one was completed 11 years after the futuristic one! Both cathedrals are beautifully illuminated after dark. The Anglican Cathedral, or Liverpool Cathedral, was built in gothic revival style between 1904 and 1978, but looks hundreds of years older. The construction was heavily delayed by the two world wars. The tower is 101m tall, making it one of UK:s tallest church buildings, it is also one of the largest cathedrals in the world, one of the two largest Anglican churches in the world and the 2nd tallest building in Liverpool. The cathedral, situated on St James Mount, was built in red granite style. It is the Church of England Cathedral of the Diocese of Liverpool. The interior, especially the Lady Chapel, is very large. It has the largest pipe organ in the UK, and is the longest cathedral in the world, 189m! The bells are the highest and the heaviest ringing peals in the world, at a heigh of 67m. There is a neo-classical oratory, designed by John Foster, from 1846, with a column, right next to the cathedral. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King was built in 1962-67 in a very modern, futuristic style, in a circular pyramid, almost UFO like shape. It is 82m tall, 59m in diameter and was built in stone, steel and concrete. The vast interior is also completely circular and is sloping towards a blue dome on the top. It is nicked by locals as the "Catholic Cathedral". The architect, Sir Frederick Gibberd (together with Sir Edwin Lutyens), won an international design competition (there is a large model of one of the other proposals inside the Museum of Liverpool). There are lots of interesting details, like the organ, beautiful lightings, modern paintings and blue mosaic glass. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Liverpool and the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool. There is a crypt under the Metropolitan Cathedral. You can reach the cathedral with stairs from Hope Street/Mt Pleasant.
LIVERPOOL ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL:
LIVERPOOL METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE KING: |