A cathedral in the heart of Liverpool has been granted Grade 1 Listed status almost 60 years after opening.
As a new addition to Liverpool’s skyline in 1967, Metropolitan Cathedral wasn’t immediately welcomed by everyone in the city.
When it opened its doors, there were questions from the Catholic community – and beyond.
They expressed concerns about the architecture, the modern materials used, and even the speed at which construction had taken place.
However, fast forward almost 60 years, and the Cathedral is considered an iconic feature of the city, and is known to locals as 'Liverpool’s Wigwam'.
And now, thanks to the building's unique architectural design and historical significance, it has been granted Grade 1 Listed status by Historic England.
Speaking to GB News, the Cathedral Dean, Father Tony O’Brien, said: “People often use it to signify Liverpool… it’s one of the most significant buildings in the city.
“I’m just delighted that now, we’ve been given that honour and prestige… it’s well worthy of it.
Liverpool’s ‘Wigwam’ Cathedral
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Inside Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King
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“You just feel it’s a spiritual place as soon as you walk in.”
It’s a rare occurrence for buildings to be granted Grade 1 listed status; in fact, only around 2.5 per cent receive the accolade.
When it does happen, it means that the building is given special significance, which helps to maintain it and ensure its future.
Catherine Croft, Director at the 20th Century Society, said that this decision from Historic England is “really important” as these kinds of buildings “tell us unique stories”.
The Sun shining through the Cathedral’s coloured glass ‘lantern’ in the roof
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She added that if you just kept “photographs or films” of them, that we “wouldn’t experience how they feel; how the spaces feel, what they smell like, what it’s like to walk through them”.
To her, this status proves that Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral is “one of the most extraordinary buildings”.
The building was designed by English-born architect Sir Frederick Gibberd, and took just five years to construct between the years of 1962 and 1967.
The structure features a central lantern which was filled with coloured glass, using a technique designed specifically for the building.
Sarah Charlesworth, from Historic England, said: “Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral transformed British cathedral design with its revolutionary centralised plan, representing a radical departure from traditional designs.”
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