Salford Cathedral

The foundation stone was laid on Whit Thursday, May 1844, by Bishop James Sharples. The architect was Matthew Ellison Hadfield of Sheffield, and Salford Cathedral is the largest and most significant of his works, being the first Catholic Church to be built in cruciform shape since the Reformation and the Cathedral. Hadfield also designed other churches in the Diocese, including St Joseph, Stockport and St Mary, Burnley, as well as redesigning St Mary in Manchester city centre. Its design was inspired by churches from around England and the continent. For the west front and nave, Hadfield looked to Howden church, Yorkshire. The choir and sanctuary are influenced by the Benedictine Abbey of Selby from across the Pennines. For the spire, still the tallest on the Manchester skyline, he emulated the 15th century church of St Mary Magdalene in Newark on Trent and his design for the roof was inspired by that of the St James at Liege, Belgium. It was opened on 9th August 1848, by Bishop George Brown. In 1852, after the Restoration of the Catholic Hierarchy, it was raised to the dignity of a cathedral.