1901 – “something to speak for God”
On Monday 17th June 1901, at a meeting in the Town Hall, the decision was taken to build a worthy Cathedral for the prosperous City of Liverpool.

1903 – “the best idea and the finest conception”
The design submitted by twenty-two year old Giles Gilbert Scott was chosen and Scott and George Bodley were appointed joint architects.

1904 – the laying of the Foundation Stone
On Tuesday 19th July 1904 the Foundation Stone was laid by King Edward VII at a great open-air service at the culmination of which the choir of a thousand voices sang Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.

1910 – completion of the Lady Chapel
On Saint Peter’s Day, 29th June, the Lady Chapel, the first part of the Cathedral to be completed, was dedicated by Bishop Chavasse and Cosmo Long, Archbishop of York.

1924 – consecration of the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool
Despite the serious delays caused by the First World War, the High Altar, Chancel and Eastern Transepts were completed and, in the presence of King George V and Queen Mary, the Cathedral was consecrated. Albert Augustus David had succeeded Bishop Chavasse in 1923, and Frederick William Dwelly, future first Dean of Liverpool, devised and organised the service.

1931 – foundation of the Dean & Chapter “The greatest of modern Cathedrals is a church of Resurrection”
In October 1931, Frederick William Dwelly was appointed as the first Dean of Liverpool, a position he was to hold until his retirement in 1955.

1941 – “Keep going whatever you do”
Solemn Entrance in Time of War was the name of the first service to take place in the vast Central Space below the still incomplete Tower. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the Cathedral during the blitz a grave encouragement to the Cathedral community to keep building.

1942 – Completion of the Tower “All cathedrals should be specially conspicuous by tower and spire”
In bitterly cold weather on 20th February 1942, Sir Giles Scott placed the final stone on the final finial at the top of the tower, three hundred and thirty one feet one and half inches above the Cathedral floor.

1961 – The Nave Bridge
On 22nd April 1961, the newly completed Bridge and the first bay of the Nave were handed over to the Dean & Chapter. Sadly the architect had not lived long enough to enjoy the new vistas through his Cathedral.

1978 – “one of the great buildings of the world”
On 25th October 1978, in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, there was a great service of thanksgiving to mark the completion of the Cathedral, “a triumphant proclamation of hope”

80s & 90s “a city site of world importance”
Under the leadership of Derrick Walters, the fourth Dean of Liverpool, the area in front of the Cathedral was transformed from urban dereliction into a setting appropriate to a great Cathedral and in 1991 the Queen formerly opened Queen’s Walk

SPCK is the oldest Anglican mission agency, founded in 1698.

For over three hundred years SPCK has been working in the UK and around the world to help people to grow in the Christian faith, especially through the ministry of Christian education and literature.