Dating back to 1215, Manchester Cathedral is truly a wondrous building to visit. It makes my head implode when I imagine that over eight centuries of history have passed through this building.
Inside those 800-plus years, this cathedral has seen the best and worst of Manchester. It has also seen the best and worst of what other people would do to, and in, Manchester.
What Is There to See?
Manchester Cathedral is a feast for the eyeballs. Whether you are religious or not, the cathedral is first and foremost a building of absolute beauty. Everywhere you turn, there are different breathtaking details and ornate pieces of architectural charm. It is also rather easy to miss as Manchester has grown up tall around it.
The best way I can describe the cathedral is as a gallery of itself. Many places have dedicated space for beautiful art, this place is a smorgasbord of beautiful things.
Everything is artistic or imbued with a deeper meaning, given its evolution over the centuries. If you want to see a building that has been cherished by its occupants and adherents, this is the place for you to visit. You sense: ‘what shouldn’t I take photos of?’.
Many religious places leave me feeling cold, but despite the size of this space, it felt surprisingly intimate and inclusive. The cathedral took care to strike a balance between ‘awe-inspiring’ and ‘of the people, for the people’.
I spent almost an hour in the cathedral and outside in the grounds making ‘Huh’ noises. I admired a history that had touched several million hearts and I wanted to drink it in.
As you can probably tell from my descriptions, I don’t know my apses from my naves or chancels. I can, however, appreciate workmanship and the amalgamation of styles and historical influences.
Manchester Cathedral Through Troubled Times
The Luftwaffe sought to influence the building by way of bombing the north-east corner during the Second World War. The damage they wrought took over 20 years of restoration.
The IRA also damaged the building in the 1996 Manchester bombing. Not far away from Manchester Cathedral stands a rather British symbol of fortitude. Dubbed the ‘Undamaged Red Postbox’, its plaque reads:
This postbox remained standing almost undamaged on June 15th 1996 when this area was devastated by a bomb. The box was removed during the rebuilding of the city centre and was returned to its original site on November 22nd 1999.
A memorial for victims of the Manchester Arena bombing is here at the cathedral. It is a tribute to those whose lives were cruelly taken at a pop concert for teenagers and young fans.
Final Thoughts
If you know and appreciate your history, you will probably want to spend at least half a day here, taking time to absorb it all. I would implore you that even if you are not religious but find yourself in this part of Manchester; pay a visit.
It is located very close to Exchange Square, a temple to commercialism, but the cathedral stands as a true Mancunian oasis.
Admission: Free.
Find out more at their website here.
Manchester Cathedral, Victoria St, Manchester, M3 1SX
