Wikipedia

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

For the Anglican cathedral in the same city, seeLiverpool Cathedral.

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral,officially known as theMetropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King[2]and locally nicknamed "Paddy's Wigwam",[3]is theseatof theArchbishop of Liverpooland themother churchof theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of LiverpoolinLiverpool,England.[4][5]The Grade II* Metropolitan Cathedral is one of Liverpool's manylisted buildings.

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Mount Pleasant
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is located in Liverpool
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Shown within Liverpool
53°24′17″N2°58′08″W/ 53.4047°N 2.9688°W/53.4047; -2.9688
LocationLiverpool,England
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websiteliverpoolmetrocathedral.org.uk
Architecture
Architect(s)Sir Edwin Lutyens
Sir Frederick Gibberd
Architectural typeModern
Groundbreaking1962
Completed1967
Specifications
Height84.86m[1]
Diameter59.43m
Administration
ProvinceProvince of Liverpool
ArchdioceseArchdiocese of Liverpool
Clergy
Bishop(s)Most RevMalcolm McMahon, OP
Right RevBishop Thomas Williams
Right RevBishop Thomas Neylon
ProvostCanon Anthony O'Brien
DeanCanon Anthony O'Brien
Laity
Director of musicDr Christopher McElroy
Organist(s)Mr James Luxton (Assistant Director of Music)
Mr Richard Lea (Cathedral Organist)

The cathedral'sarchitect,Frederick Gibberd,was the winner of a worldwidedesign competition.Construction began in 1962 and was completed in 1967. Earlier designs for a cathedral were proposed in 1933 and 1953, but neither was completed.

History

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Pugin's design

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External image
Pugin’s designatchristophermcelroy.org.
First design for Liverpool’s catholic cathedral, byEdward Pugin,1853

During theGreat Irish Famine(1845–1852) theCatholicpopulation ofLiverpoolincreased dramatically. About half a millionIrish,who were predominantly Catholic, fled to England to escape the famine; many embarked from Liverpool to travel to North America while others remained in the city.[6]Because of the increase in the Catholic population, theco-adjutorBishop of Liverpool,Alexander Goss(1814–1872), saw the need for a cathedral. The location he chose was the grounds ofSt. Edward's Collegeon St. Domingo Road,Everton.[7]

In 1853 Goss, then bishop, awarded the commission for the building of the new cathedral toEdward Welby Pugin(1833–1875).[8]By 1856 theLady chapelof the new cathedral had been completed. Due to financial resources being diverted to the education of Catholic children, work on the building ceased at this point and the Lady chapel – now named Our Lady Immaculate – served asparish churchto the local Catholic population until its demolition in the 1980s.[9]

Lutyens' design

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Illustration byCyril Fareyof Edwin Lutyens' unrealized design for the cathedral

Following the purchase of the 9-acre (36,000 m2) formerBrownlow Hill workhousesite in 1930,[7]Sir Edwin Lutyens(1869–1944) was commissioned to provide a design which would be an appropriate response to theGiles Gilbert Scott-designedNeo-gothicAnglican cathedralthen partially complete further alongHope Street.[10]

Lutyens' design was intended to create a massive structure that would have become the second-largest church in the world. It would have had the world's largestdome,with a diameter of 168 feet (51 m) compared to the 137.7 feet (42.0 m) diameter onSt. Peter's BasilicainVatican City.[11]Building work based on Lutyens' design began onWhit Monday,5 June 1933,[11]being paid for mostly by the contributions ofworking classCatholics of the burgeoning industrial port.[12]In 1941, the restrictions ofWorld War IIwartimeand a rising cost from £3 million to £27 million[13](£1.69 billion in 2023),[14]forced construction to stop. In 1956, work recommenced on thecrypt,which was finished in 1958. Thereafter, Lutyens' design for the cathedral was considered too costly and was abandoned with only the crypt complete.[11]The restored architectural model of the Lutyens cathedral is on display at theMuseum of Liverpool.[15]

Scott's reduced design

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After the ambitious design by Lutyens fell through,Adrian Gilbert Scott,brother ofSir Giles Gilbert Scott(architect of the Anglican Cathedral), was commissioned in 1953 to work on a smaller cathedral design with a £4 million budget (£141 million in 2023).[14]He proposed a scaled-down version of Lutyens' building, retaining the massive dome. Scott's plans were criticised and the building did not go ahead.[7]

Gibberd's design

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The present Cathedral was designed bySir Frederick Gibberd(1908–84). Construction began in October 1962 and less than five years later, on theFeast of Pentecost14 May 1967, the completed cathedral wasconsecrated.[7]Soon after its opening, it began to exhibit architectural flaws. This led the cathedral authorities to sue Frederick Gibberd for £1.3 million on five counts, the two most serious being leaks in thealuminiumroof covering and defects in themosaictiles, which had begun to come away from the concrete ribs.[16]The design has been described byStephen Bayleyas "a thin and brittle take on anOscar Niemeyeroriginal in Brasilia,"[17]thoughNikolaus Pevsnernotes that the resemblance is only superficial.[18]

Architecture

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Concept

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The competition to design the cathedral was held in 1959. The requirement was first, seating for a congregation of 3,000 (later reduced to 2,000) all with direct line of sight to thealtar,so they could be more involved in the celebration of theMass;and, second, for the existing Lutyens crypt to be incorporated in the structure. Gibberd achieved these requirements by designing a circular building with thealtarat its centre, and by transforming the roof of the crypt into an elevated platform, with the cathedral standing at one end.[19]The construction contract was let toTaylor Woodrow.[20]

The cathedral at dusk

Exterior

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The cathedral is built in concrete with aPortland stonecladding and an aluminium covering to the roof.[21]Its plan is circular, having a diameter of 195 feet (59 m), with 13 chapels around its perimeter.[22]The shape of the cathedral is conical, and it is surmounted by a tower in the shape of atruncated cone.[21]The building is supported by 16boomerang-shaped concretetrusseswhich are held together by two ring beams, one at the bends of the trusses and the other at their tops.Flying buttressesare attached to the trusses, giving the cathedral its tent-like appearance. Rising from the upper ring beam is a lantern tower, containing windows of stained glass, and at its peak is a crown ofpinnacles.[22]

The entrance is at the top of a wide flight of steps leading up fromHope Street.Above the entrance is a large wedge-shaped structure. This acts as a bell tower, the four bells being mounted in rectangular orifices towards the top of the tower. Below these is a geometricreliefsculpture, designed by William Mitchell, which includes three crosses. To the sides of the entrance doors are more reliefs infibreglassby Mitchell, which represent thesymbols of the Evangelists.[21][23]The steps which lead up to the cathedral were only completed in 2003, when a building which obstructed the stairway path was acquired anddemolishedby developers.[24]

A much smaller version of the cathedral, also designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, was constructed in 1965 as a chapel for the former De La Salle College of Education,Middleton, Lancashire,a Catholic teacher-training college. The site is now occupied byHopwood Hall College,a further education college of the Borough of Rochdale and the chapel may still be seen.[25]

Interior

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The nave and sanctuary of the cathedral

The focus of the interior is the altar which faces the main entrance. It is made of whitemarblefromSkopje,North Macedonia,and is 10 feet (3 m) long. The floor is also of marble in grey and white designed by David Atkins. The benches,concentricwith the interior, were designed by Frank Knight. Above is the tower with large areas of stained glass designed byJohn PiperandPatrick Reyntiensin three colours, yellow, blue and red, representing theTrinity.The glass is 1 inch (3 cm) thick, the pieces of glass being bonded withepoxy resin,in concrete frames. Around theperimeteris a series ofchapels.Some of the chapels are open, some are closed by almost blank walls, and others consists of a low space under a balcony. Opposite the entrance is theBlessed SacramentChapel, above which is the organ. Other chapels include theLady Chapeland the Chapel ofSaint Joseph.To the right of the entrance is theBaptistry.[26]

On the altar, the candlesticks are by R. Y. Goodden and the bronzecrucifixis byElisabeth Frink.Above the altar is abaldachinodesigned by Gibberd as a crown-like structure composed of aluminium rods, which incorporates loudspeakers and lights. Around the interior are metalStations of the Cross,designed by Sean Rice. Rice also designed thelectern,which includes two entwined eagles. In the Chapel ofReconciliation(formerly the Chapel ofSaint Paul of the Cross), the stained glass was designed by Margaret Traherne. Stephen Foster designed, carved and painted the panelling in the Chapel of St. Joseph. The Lady Chapel contains a statue of theVirgin and Childby Robert Brumby and stained glass by Margaret Traherne. In the Blessed Sacrament Chapel is areredosand stained glass byCeri Richardsand a small statue of the Risen Christ byArthur Dooley.In the Chapel of Unity (formerly the Chapel ofSaintThomas Aquinas) is a bronzestoupby Virginio Ciminaghi, and a mosaic of thePentecostby Hungarian artistGeorg Mayer-Martonwhich was moved from the Church of theHoly Ghost,Netherton,when it was demolished in 1989. The gates of the Baptistry were designed by David Atkins.[27]

Architectural problems

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The cathedral was built quickly and economically, and this led to problems with the fabric of the building, including leaks. A programme of repairs was carried out during the 1990s. The building had been faced withmosaictiles, but these were impossible to repair and were replaced with glass-reinforced plastic, which gave it a thicker appearance. Thealuminiumin the lantern was replaced bystainless steel,and the slate paving of the platform was replaced with concrete flags.[22]

Cathedral crypt

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Exterior of the Crypt seen from Brownlow Hill

The crypt under Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is the only part that was built according to Lutyens' design before construction stopped due toWorld War II;in 1962Frederick Gibberd's design was built upon the Lutyens crypt.[11]Structurally the crypt is built ofbricktogether withgranitefrom quarries inPenryn, Cornwall.[28]Each year the crypt plays host to the Liverpool Beer Festival which attracts visitors, not only from all over UK but also Europe and places such as the United States and Australia.[29]The crypt also hosts examinations for students at theUniversity of Liverpoolduring exam periods.[30]

Refurbishment

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A £3 million refurbishment of the crypt was completed in 2009 and was officially re-opened on 1 May that year byThe Duke of Gloucester.[31]The refurbishment included new east and west approaches, archive provision, rewiring and new lighting, catering facilities, a newchancel,new toilets and revamped exhibitions.[32]

Organ

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Cathedral organ byJ. W. Walker & Sons Ltd

Built byJ. W. Walker and Sons,the organ was completed only two days before the opening of the cathedral in 1967.[33]Made as an integral part of the new cathedral, the architect, Frederick Gibberd, saw thecaseworkas part of his brief and so designed the striking front to the organ. Using decorative woodwork, Gibberd was inspired by the innovative use of the pipes atCoventry Cathedraland theRoyal Festival Halland so arranged the shinyzincpipes andbrasstrumpetsen chamadeto contrast strikingly with concrete pillars which surround the organ.[34]

Specifications

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The organ has fourmanuals,88speaking stopsand 4565pipes.It works by way ofair pressure,controlled by anelectric currentand operated by the keys of theorgan console;this opens and closes valves within the wind chests, allowing the pipes to speak. This type of motion is calledelectro-pneumatic action.[34][35]

Organ stops Organ pipes
Great Organ 15 1220
Swell organ 16 1159
Positive Organ 14 793
Solo Organ 15 893
Accompanimental Organ 7 0
Pedal organ 21 500
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See also

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References

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Notes

  1. ^"Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King – Facts".Emporis.Archived from the original on 20 August 2004.Retrieved28 June2009.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^Metropolitan Cathedral website: The CathedralArchived17 July 2012 at theWayback MachineRetrieved 13 August 2012
  3. ^McLoughlin, Jamie (17 June 2017)."12 things you probably never knew about Paddy's Wigwam".Liverpool Echo.
  4. ^"Welcome to Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral".Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.Retrieved9 July2009.
  5. ^"The Archdiocese of Liverpool".Archdiocese of Liverpool. Archived fromthe originalon 19 June 2008.Retrieved11 November2009.
  6. ^Redford & Chaloner 1976,pp. 156–157
  7. ^abcd"History of the Metropolitan Cathedral".Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Archived fromthe originalon 29 January 2009.Retrieved4 July2009.
  8. ^Hammond, Lisa (June–July 2008)."No.14: Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral".mondoarc. Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2011.Retrieved28 June2009.
  9. ^Evans, Dave (7 April 2005),St Domingo Road, Everton,Dave Evans
  10. ^"Liverpool Cathedral".Visit North West.Retrieved5 July2009.
  11. ^abcdEdmondson, Rick."Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral".Rick Edmondson.Retrieved5 July2009.
  12. ^Cusack, Andrew (January 2007)."The Greatest Building Never Built".andrew cusack.Retrieved5 July2009.
  13. ^"'Lutyens Cathedral', by Sir Edward Lutyens ".Walker Art Gallery.March 2007.Retrieved20 July2009.
  14. ^abUKRetail Price Indexinflation figures are based on data fromClark, Gregory (2017)."The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)".MeasuringWorth.Retrieved7 May2024.
  15. ^"Cathedral of Dreams".Museum of Liverpool.Retrieved12 June2014.
  16. ^Baillieu, Amanda (February 1994)."Paddy's wigwam needs repairs".The Independent.Retrieved16 July2009.
  17. ^Bayley, Stephen."Building block | 8 June 2017 | The Spectator".spectator.co.uk.
  18. ^Pollard & Pevsner 2006,pp. 357
  19. ^Pollard & Pevsner 2006,pp. 356–357
  20. ^"Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral".Skyscraper News. Archived fromthe originalon 15 December 2018.Retrieved4 April2012.
  21. ^abcHistoric England."Roman Catholic Cathedral, Liverpool (1070607)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved20 August2013.
  22. ^abcPollard & Pevsner 2006,p. 357
  23. ^Pollard & Pevsner 2006,p. 358
  24. ^"Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Steps".Neptune Developments Ltd.Retrieved17 April2010.
  25. ^Proctor, Robert (23 May 2016),Building the Modern Church: Roman Catholic Church Architecture in Britain 1955 – 1975,New York: Routledge, pp. 52–53,ISBN978-1317170860
  26. ^Pollard & Pevsner 2006,pp. 358–359
  27. ^Pollard & Pevsner 2006,p. 359
  28. ^L'POOL CATHEDRAL (aka CATHEDRALS OF LIVERPOOL) 1940.British Pathe Ltd.
  29. ^Shennan, Paddy (16 February 2010)."30 reasons to be cheerful about the Liverpool Beer Festival".Liverpool Echo.Retrieved6 April2010.
  30. ^"Exam Room Information".Archived fromthe originalon 10 November 2019.Retrieved28 March2018.
  31. ^Sharpe, Laura (29 April 2009)."First glimpse of refurbished Crypt at Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral".Liverpool Daily Post.Retrieved24 July2009.
  32. ^"Cathedral's crypt is transformed".BBC.May 2009.Retrieved24 July2009.
  33. ^"The Organ in the Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool".liv.ac.uk.Retrieved23 July2009.
  34. ^ab"The cathedral organs".Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Archived fromthe originalon 9 April 2010.Retrieved23 July2009.
  35. ^Cook, James (1998)."electro pneumatic windchests".James H. Cook.Retrieved23 July2009.

Bibliography

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toLiverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.
External media
Images
Images of Cathedral interior
Blessings Exhibition of 800 Years of Liverpool
Video
Construction of Cathedral Crypt
First mass in Cathedral Crypt

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