Lancaster Cathedral

Designed by Edward Graham Paley, a well known local architect. The scale of the new church is indeed impressive and its style, based on English Gothic churches of around 1300, was seen to reflect a bygone era when the glory of a Catholic England was unopposed and unsurpassed. The architectural statement that St Peter's made, with its 240 foot spire towering over Lancaster's skyline, could hardly have been more dramatic. It was consecrated on 4th October 1859, dedicated to God as a new Catholic parish church for Lancaster.

In 1924 it became the Cathedral church of the new Diocese of Lancaster, and now has served parish, city and diocese for 150 years. The impressive size and relative grandeur of St Peter's lent itself to its new role as a Cathedral, with only minor changes required. The original Cathedra (bishop's throne), was placed beyond the north set of choir stalls near the High Altar. It is now situated in the north transept. The choir stalls were refurbished with the back rank receiving a new high back, and the marble floor of the chancel was renewed. An altar wall with decorative metalwork was placed behind the original low stone wall which marked out the sanctuary.