Blackburn Cathedral

The alarm went off at 5 am. It is impossible to say who was most surprised. Scout or me. We were both up and running by 6.15 am when Clare and Kit arrived to chauffeur us to Blackburn Cathedral in time for the 8.30 am service. We arrived safely and were greeted by Jenny, Canon Precentor who was expecting us. We’re grateful to her for the time she spent with us after the service. We briefed her on the Jeel Scholarship Fund, and she agreed to speak to her colleagues about support. We were advised that a significant reason for not allowing dogs in the Cathedral was a local issue with XBully dogs.

 Blackburn documented a site of Christian worship since 596  became a Cathedral in 1926 when Bishop William Temple established the Diocese of Blackburn and named Blackburn as the Cathedral city. The Cathedral boasts an  octagonal Lantern tower with stained glass windows built 1961 to 1964.

                                                              

                                                              A central altar and crossing,  approached by limestone

                                                              steps with a hanging circular crownlike metal frame

                                                              Corona by John Hayward, was installed in 1950 .

                                                              The impression is one of huge spaces and light with

                                                              a minimum of ephemera making it almost stark.

                                                              It was also quiet with few people around on the morning,

                                                              a Tuesday, of our visit.

                                                              There was plenty to review from a wooden Cathedra

                                                              installed in 1953 to a stone egg-shaped font to

                                                              symbolise the birth of Christ and new life.

                                                              There is also a suspended sculpture  of Christ the Worker,

                                                              by John Hayward , hanging from the ceiling.

                                                              It draws the eye along the arched walls that give

                                                              it perspective.

 

 

One feature we admired was four panels of faux stained glass made from recycled milk bottles.

They were made to feature gardens to remind us to care for each other and our world.

Next to them is a copy of the Universal prayer for peace that originates from Coventry Cathedral.

A terrossa sculpture of the Virgin and Child by Josefina DE Vasconcellos is unusual as the

Virgin is smiling from one direction and reflective from another perspective.

The café is known as Checks and Greys in memory of the weaving industry that was a mainstay

of Blackburn in the past. The coffee was superb and very welcome after the early start.

The small shop is contained within the café and had fewer goods than the average Cathedral shop.

Cards and gin were available.

 

The noticeboard in the café informed us of events and the A-Rocha Bronze Award status of the Cathedral. The modern clean toilets some distance from the main church were sited in the café area. The Cathedral was well endowed with contemporary meeting and office spaces

Outside is a Cathedral surround that includes a statute of Barbara Castle.

We took the dogs to nearby Witton Country park for a six mile walk before returning to Ripon