Today we mark International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women across our communities, our Church, and the wider world.
The Very Revd Dr Sue Jones, Dean of Liverpool Cathedral, reflects on the significance of the day:
“International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women across the world. As Dean of Liverpool Cathedral, and the first woman to hold this position, the day holds particular significance for me. It is an opportunity to give thanks for the gifts, leadership and faithfulness of women across the Church and within our communities. This year’s theme, ‘Give to Gain’ encourages a spirit of generosity and collaboration – something that resonates deeply with the Christian faith, for the Gospel reminds us that when we give generously of ourselves, we all share in the blessings that follow. The church has an important role in recognising and affirming the women whose faith and dedication sustain its life and ministry, so that together we may better reflect God’s generosity and love in the world.”
At Liverpool Cathedral we are deeply grateful for the many women who shape the life of our community – from clergy and staff to volunteers, artists, musicians and worshippers. Their gifts, leadership and dedication enrich the Cathedral in countless ways.
One meaningful way to explore the contribution of women within the Cathedral is through our Women Artists audio tour, available on the Bloomberg Connects app.
A Journey Through Art and Faith
Curated and narrated by Elisa Nocente, Head of Cultural Programme, this audio tour guides visitors through a series of artworks by women artists that are permanently displayed throughout the Cathedral. Together, these works form a reflective journey through themes of vulnerability, love, sacrifice and redemption.
The tour begins before you even step inside the building, with Dame Elisabeth Frink’s powerful sculpture The Risen Christ above the West Doors. Frink’s striking bronze figure presents Christ not as a distant or triumphant figure, but as vulnerable and human, marked by the wounds of resurrection.
Inside the Cathedral, visitors encounter Dame Tracey Emin’s neon artwork For You, glowing in bright pink beneath the stained-glass windows. Written in the artist’s own handwriting, the words “I felt you and I knew you loved me” introduce a deeply personal reflection on love, faith and emotional connection within the sacred space.
The journey continues into the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, where Ludmila Pawlowska’s Icon of the Cross offers a contemporary interpretation of the traditional icon. Using gold, texture and carved surfaces, the work invites quiet contemplation on sacrifice and divine light.
Nearby, Redemption, created by textile artist Ann McTavish in collaboration with sculptor Arthur Dooley, combines sculpture and tapestry to create a powerful meditation on Christ’s outstretched arms and the continuing story of redemption.
In the Children’s Chapel, visitors encounter the tender sculpture The Holy Family by Josefina de Vasconcellos, whose work often focused on reconciliation and peace. The gentle posture of the figures expresses closeness, protection and love — a quiet reflection on the sacredness of family life.
The tour concludes in the Ambulatory with a smaller model, or maquette, of Frink’s Risen Christ, offering a glimpse into the artist’s creative process and bringing the journey full circle.
Discover the Tour
These artworks represent just a small part of Liverpool Cathedral’s remarkable collection, yet together they reveal how women artists from different generations and cultures have helped shape the spiritual and emotional landscape of this sacred space.
Through bronze, neon light, carved wood, fabric and mixed media, these artists bring faith into dialogue with deeply human experiences – fear, love, grief, tenderness and hope.
This International Women’s Day, we invite you to explore their stories and perspectives by taking the Women Artists audio tour on the Bloomberg Connects app.
Whether you’re visiting the Cathedral in person or exploring digitally, the tour offers a thoughtful way to reflect on the powerful role women artists play in shaping spaces of faith, contemplation and creativity.
Download the Bloomberg Connects app and begin the Women Artists tour today.
