It may come as a surprise to many, but the largest cathedral in the United Kingdom is not Westminster Abbey, nor is it St. Paul's Cathedral (the scene of "Feed the Birds" in Mary Poppins). The largest cathedral on those foggy isles is Liverpool Cathedral in the city of Liverpool.
Liverpool Cathedral is the cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Liverpool and the seat of the Bishop of Liverpool. It is the fifth or eighth-largest church in the world depending on the source and the criteria used.
About Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral competes with the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City for the status as the largest Anglican church building in the world. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is still complete but is a working church and an often overlooked landmark of NYC.
- Fun Fact: The Distinctive Accent From Liverpool Is Called "Scouse"
- Size: Largest Religious Building In Britain And Fifth or Eighth Largest Church In The World
- Longest: It is The Longest Cathedral In The World At 207 Yards or 189 Meters
- Largest Anglican: It Is Either The Largest or Second Largest Anglican Church Building
The cathedral was based on a design by Gild Gilbert Scott. It was built from 1904 to 1978 making it one of the youngest of the great cathedrals in the Old World. It is also the longest cathedral in the world.
- Listed: It is Listed As A Grade I Heritage Building
But this is not the only great cathedral in the port city of Liverpool. Only around half a mile to the north lays the impressive (and even newer) Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Liverpool. So plan one's trip to walk over there and see that building too!
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott didn't just design the largest cathedral in the United Kingdom. He also designed the iconic British red telephone boxes or booths that everyone has at least seen pictures of. In particular, he designed the K6 version of the iconic phone booth.
- Giles Gilbert Scott: Designed Both The Liverpool Cathedral and The Iconic Red British Phone Booths
The cathedral has managed to survive both World Wars (and the Second World War where Germans heavily bombed much of Britain).
Visiting The Liverpool Cathedral
The cathedral is open to the public and welcomes everyone from all around the world. It is open from 10 in the morning to 6 in the evening seven days a week and holds regular services. It is important to keep in mind that this is a working church and to keep quiet and respectful.
- Admission Fee: Admission To the Liverpool Cathedral is Free
- Tip: Enjoy A Full English, Eggs Benedict, and smashed avocado At The Restuarant there
- Opening Hours: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm (Holiday Hours May Differ)
The cathedral also has a shop that the cathedral always appreciates visitors popping in and buying something from. It is partly the income from the shop that helps keep admission to the cathedral free.
Visitors can explore most of the areas within the building. However, as the cathedral is a living church, some parts of the building may be inaccessible to visitors.
One has the option of either visiting the cathedral as a tourist or attending its services. see their website to see what special services are scheduled. The cathedral's regular worship services are:
Monday to Saturday:
- 8:30 am: Morning Prayer
- 12:05 pm: Eucharist
- 7:30 pm: Evening Prayer or Choral Evensong.
Sundays:
- 10:30 am: Sunday Eucharist service
The City of Liverpool
The city of Liverpool is also very much worth a visit. It is an English city with a very strong Irish influence and a distinctive accent and identity of its own. Liverpool was once one of England's most important port cities when the Britannia ruled the waves - today the docks are one of the city's main attractions.
- The Beatles: The Rock Band The Beatles Came Fromm Liverpool
Liverpool is also famous for the soccer team that hails from the city (Liverpool United) and for being the home of the Beatles.
The origin of the city's name can be traced to 1173 when it appear in a charter granted by King Henry II. It is thought that the name is connected with the mythological Liver Bird - a seagull-like bird that one can see on the city's coat of arms.
- UNESCO Status: Liverpool Was A UNESCO Listed Site, But That Was Lost in 2021 Because of Concerns About Development In The City
The city is full of historic buildings, museums, gardens, and other attractions. It is a city that people with short vacations gloss over in their quests to see the more famous sights in London and Scotland quickly.