Welcome to Liverpool Cathedral’s website.
Our Cathedral is first and foremost a place of prayer and worship. It is a place where we hope you can come to know a God who knows and loves you. I hope people will do this in many different ways whether you are visiting as a tourist, a pilgrim, a worshipper.
Whatever reason you have to visit, I believe, if you look up, you will encounter: inspiring Christian worship, a breathtaking and magnificent building, a community committed to justice and mercy and a welcoming staff.
Thank you for visiting our website. I hope you will find all you need as you plan your visit.
We look forward to welcoming you.
The Very Revd Dr Sue Jones
Dean of Liverpool
A great place to visit
Liverpool Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Britain and the 5th largest in the world. We hope that exploring our vast space provides you with a sense of what it means to ’encounter Liverpool Cathedral’, whether that is through our daily worship services filled with inspiring music and quiet reflection, or our large-scale art installations and family activities.
About The Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral is more than an iconic building. It’s a vibrant, active place that the people of the city, regions and world encounter in many ways. Led by our Dean we have reflected on our mission and ministry. This led to us seeing the word Encounter become of increasing importance to us.
Our Staff
Our mission and ministry is made possible thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteers.
If you want to get in touch with somebody at the Cathedral, head to the Contact Us page and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
What we believe
Liverpool Cathedral is a place of encounter. We long for everyone who encounters this Cathedral and its many communities to encounter the God who knows and loves them. We believe that God is love and seeks a relationship of love with every person and with the whole creation. God has chosen to reveal that love supremely through the person of Jesus Christ.
Our Locations
Learn more about the different areas of our amazing building.
The Cathedral’s Nave (known as the Well) is a lowered area of the Cathedral where on formal occasions the Chapter will process from. On one side of the well you have the great West Doors above which is Tracy Emin’s installation. This is dwarfed by the magnificent Benedicite Window. Facing into the Cathedral you can see the central space through the arch of the Dulverton Bridge. The Well is often used for exhibitions (including Icons in Transformation in early 2010), events and occasions.
The magnificent central space of the Cathedral stretches east from the bridge towards the Quire and the high altar. The central space dominates your view of the Cathedral and its enormity gives an impression of the Cathedral architect’s vision of our relationship with God. In the centre of the floor stands a memorial to the architect, Giles Gilbert Scott.
The first part of the Cathedral consecrated for worship was the Lady Chapel, in the southeastern corner of the main building.
Wheelchair users are able to enjoy a grand view of the reredos and principal windows from a balcony directly opposite the altar.
This position also gives a good vantage point for seeing the newly restored window depicting the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, which was storm damaged and almost collapsed on the 8th January 2005.
Features:
- The Chapel’s style is more elaborate than the main body of the Cathedral, reflecting different approaches by the architect and his team.
- Ornately carved lettering runs around the walls, with the verse from St. John’s Gospel (ch 3:16):
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” - A beautiful 15th Century statue of the Virgin Mary by Giovanni Della Robbia is cited in its sanctuary along with complementary statuette, commissioned via a donation in 2005, ‘Babe in Swaddling Clothes’ as the focus for Mary’s gaze.
- There is a strong sense of tranquillity in the Chapel, encouraging visitors to sit for a period of quietness, prayer or reflective contemplation.
- The Chapel has its own organ (built by Henry Willis and Sons) and is regularly used for worship, weddings (subject to Archbishop of Canterbury’s limitations and conditions), and funeral services.
- The portrait windows of noble women on the west wall of the Chapel are famous. Restored after the Second World War, they show women from different areas of life, including local heroes like Kitty Wilkinson, helper of the poor and Agnes Jones, a devoted nurse as well as nationally known figures such as Grace Darling, Elizabeth Fry and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
- A celebration marking the Centenary of its completion was held in June 2010, when archive material never before seen by the public was on display.
In adopting this unusual octagon shape for the Chapter House, whose foundation stone was laid in 1906, Scott replaced his own original design which followed the larger lines, size and shape of the Lady Chapel. It was erected by the Freemasons of West Lancashire in memory of the first Earl of Lathom.
On 16th October 2006, the then Bishop of Warrington, the Right Reverend David Jennings, commissioned this area, next to the Chapter House, to be the Children’s Chapel during a special service of thanksgiving and prayers.
Jesus drew children close to Him because he loved and valued them. In the same way, the Cathedral, through the work of the Education Centre and this designated area, proclaims our commitment to children and families, future generations and individuals in need of comfort.
This intimate chapel did not form part of the original Cathedral design, but was added by the separation with a stone screen, and refurbishment of, a former open access point in the North Choir Aisle after the main building opened, fulfilling a desire for a place of quiet solitude for prayer and meditation.
It was entirely funded by founder member, and Executive Chairman of the then Cathedral Committee, Sir William Forwood and the Chapel was screened off in such a way that the grandeur of the main building could still be experienced by those who used it.
Encounter Liverpool Cathedral with the help of our virtual tour.
Liverpool Cathedral is the largest church in the UK, and the 5th largest cathedral in the world. We are a popular location, with up to 600,000 visitors every year. If you would love the chance to encounter our iconic building in your own time, free from other guests, our virtual tour is the perfect option.
Grab yourself a hot drink, and immerse yourself in the stunning architecture, artwork and spiritual encounter that our building provides.
Liverpool Cathedral Virtual Tour
The Organ
Henry Willis began the construction of the organ in 1923, and part of the organ was used at the consecration of the Cathedral in the following year. The organ was not completed until 1926 and finally dedicated on 18th October that year.
Explore more using the links below.
How to find us
We are about a thirty-minute walk from most central Liverpool locations including Lime Street and Central railway stations and our main bus terminals.
Talking about buses, routes 82, 86 stop nearby. And if you like the hop on hop off city tours then you can include our Cathedral on your route.
We have buses stopping near the Cathedral every 12 minutes or so – it’s an easy way to get to us. For more details and timetables visit the Merseytravel website.