'Groundbreaking' Cathedral Awarded Higher Listed Status

Liverpool’s Iconic Metropolitan Cathedral Upgraded to Grade I Listed Status

Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral – often dubbed a “true jewel in the city’s crown” – has been awarded prestigious Grade I-listed status, recognising its bold and revolutionary architectural design.

Built between 1962 and 1967 and affectionately known as the "wigwam" due to its distinctive shape, the cathedral was designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd. At the time, the structure broke dramatically with traditional religious architecture, transforming the way Catholic places of worship were conceived. Historic England hailed the building’s "architectural brilliance" and its centralised plan as “a radical departure” from conventional cathedral designs.

The listing upgrade, previously Grade II*, marks the building as one of national and international importance. Archbishop of Liverpool, John Sherrington, welcomed the recognition, calling the cathedral "the soul of the city" and a source of hope for thousands of visitors each year.

The announcement also brings renewed focus to another of Sir Frederick’s designs — the Hopwood Hall Chapel in Rochdale, Greater Manchester — which has also had its listed status updated. The 1964 building, designed by Reynolds and Scott under Gibberd’s architectural vision, shares several features with Liverpool’s cathedral, including its striking lantern tower made of coloured glass.

Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson described the Metropolitan Cathedral as an “instantly recognisable symbol” of the city and said the new status “rightly honours its architectural significance and the prominent place it holds in our skyline.”

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram echoed those sentiments, saying: “The bold, modern design broke new ground and has become a beacon of faith, hope, and innovation—not just for our region, but across the world.”

The Metropolitan Cathedral sits at the opposite end of Hope Street from its Anglican counterpart, giving Liverpool the rare distinction of being home to two Grade I-listed cathedrals.

The building itself stands atop an earlier crypt designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the 1930s, part of an ambitious classical-style design that was never completed due to funding issues and the outbreak of World War II.

Catherine Croft, director of the Twentieth Century Society, praised the decision, calling the cathedral “unique in world architecture” and “a powerful homecoming beacon for Liverpudlians.”

With this upgrade, Liverpool's modernist cathedral takes its place as one of the country's most celebrated and historically significant buildings.