Cathedral has listing status upgraded to recognise ‘architectural brilliance’

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool, often referred to locally as a “wigwam”, has been awarded Grade I listed status.

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00:00A cathedral which is said to have transformed British design has had its listing status

00:05upgraded to recognise the building's architectural brilliance.

00:09The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool, known locally as Paddy's Wigwam,

00:13has been awarded Grade 1 listed status by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

00:19following advice from Historic England.

00:21The listing recognises the building, previously Grade 2, as of exceptional interest and is

00:27a standard only awarded to around 2.5% of listed buildings.

00:32The Catholic Cathedral which sits at the opposite end of Hope Street to its Anglican counterpart

00:37was designed by Sir Frederick Gibbard and built between 1962 and 67.

00:42The structure features a central lantern which is filled with coloured glass using a technique

00:48designed specifically for the building.

00:50Sarah Charlesworth from Historic England said Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral transformed

00:55British Cathedral designed with its revolutionary centralised plan representing a radical departure

01:00from traditional designs.

01:02The cathedral was built over a crypt designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens which was intended to be

01:07part of a grand classical style building that began in the 1930s before financial constraints

01:13and the outbreak of the Second World War led to construction being halted.

01:17Historic England said the upgrade of listing status reflected a deeper understanding of Sir Frederick's

01:22architectural vision and the cathedral significance is an international example of progressive Roman

01:28Catholic architecture during the mid-20th century.

01:31Catherine Croft, director of the 20th century Society, a charity which campaigns to save modern

01:36architectural and design heritage, said it is unique in world architecture and has long

01:41been a powerful homecoming beacon for Liverpoolians.