Lancaster Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Lancaster Cathedral, also known as The Cathedral Church of St Peter and Saint Peter's Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral
in Lancaster, Lancashire
, England. It towers above its superb location overlooking Lancaster and Lancaster Canal
. The cathedral has the motto
"Our Goal is the Kingdom of God
".
of Liverpool
and on October 4, 1859, the church was consecrated and dedicated to Saint Peter
, prince of the Apostles, in a service led by Dr. Goss.
Raised to cathedral status for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster in 1924. This fine neo-gothic building was designed by Edward Paley of Lancaster. In 1909, for the Golden Jubilee
a new baptistry was added on the side of the cathedral and the high altar
was greatly elaborated by Giles Gilbert Scott, who added a fine triptych
above the altar. The cathedral was extensively restored, redecorated and reordered in 1995, and the new altar consecrated on the anniversary of the first consecration.
In 1994, the cathedral was designated a Grade II* listed building by English Heritage
.
The Blessed Sacrament Chapel
at the east end of the cathedral, with a high altar and triptych
by Giles Gilbert Scott, surrounded by extensive fresco
work of saints and angels.
The new sanctuary
, altar, throne
and Ambo by Frank Roberts, divided from the chancel by an elaborate screen.
Stained glass windows of the life of Saint Peter, by Hardman of Birmingham, in the North Aisle.
The Baptistry, with a notable groined roof, Connemara
marble font
and stained glass windows by Shrigley and Hunt of Lancaster.
The tower and spire, 240 feet tall, contains a peal of ten bells. Eight were cast by John Warner & Sons, Cripplegate in 1879, and two more added in 1949 by Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel. The heaviest weighs 19cwt and 21 lbs.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England. It towers above its superb location overlooking Lancaster and Lancaster Canal
Lancaster Canal
The Lancaster Canal is a canal in the north of England, originally planned to run from Westhoughton in Lancashire to Kendal in south Cumbria...
. The cathedral has the motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
"Our Goal is the Kingdom of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
".
History
In 1856, several sums of money became available for the building of a church including £2000, which was left to the church by a Thomas Coulston in his will. A year later, plans were drawn up under the guidance of the Rev. Richard Brown. On April 29, 1857, the foundation stone of the church was laid by Dr. Goss, the BishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and on October 4, 1859, the church was consecrated and dedicated to Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
, prince of the Apostles, in a service led by Dr. Goss.
Raised to cathedral status for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster in 1924. This fine neo-gothic building was designed by Edward Paley of Lancaster. In 1909, for the Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee
A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
a new baptistry was added on the side of the cathedral and the high altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
was greatly elaborated by Giles Gilbert Scott, who added a fine triptych
Triptych
A triptych , from tri-= "three" + ptysso= "to fold") is a work of art which is divided into three sections, or three carved panels which are hinged together and can be folded shut or displayed open. It is therefore a type of polyptych, the term for all multi-panel works...
above the altar. The cathedral was extensively restored, redecorated and reordered in 1995, and the new altar consecrated on the anniversary of the first consecration.
In 1994, the cathedral was designated a Grade II* listed building by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.
Main features
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
at the east end of the cathedral, with a high altar and triptych
Triptych
A triptych , from tri-= "three" + ptysso= "to fold") is a work of art which is divided into three sections, or three carved panels which are hinged together and can be folded shut or displayed open. It is therefore a type of polyptych, the term for all multi-panel works...
by Giles Gilbert Scott, surrounded by extensive fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
work of saints and angels.
The new sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
, altar, throne
Throne
A throne is the official chair or seat upon which a monarch is seated on state or ceremonial occasions. "Throne" in an abstract sense can also refer to the monarchy or the Crown itself, an instance of metonymy, and is also used in many expressions such as "the power behind the...
and Ambo by Frank Roberts, divided from the chancel by an elaborate screen.
Stained glass windows of the life of Saint Peter, by Hardman of Birmingham, in the North Aisle.
The Baptistry, with a notable groined roof, Connemara
Connemara
Connemara is a district in the west of Ireland consisting of a broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway.-Overview:...
marble font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
and stained glass windows by Shrigley and Hunt of Lancaster.
The tower and spire, 240 feet tall, contains a peal of ten bells. Eight were cast by John Warner & Sons, Cripplegate in 1879, and two more added in 1949 by Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel. The heaviest weighs 19cwt and 21 lbs.
See also
External links
- http://www.lancastercathedral.org.uk/