Monumental Welcome, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
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'Welcoming Christ' (also referred to as 'Risen Christ' or to the cynics among us, "Frinkestein") by sculptress Dame Elizabeth Frink hovers over the West Porch, which perversely faces north, of the UK's largest cathedral and fifth largest in the world - that of Liverpool. The sculpture was unveiled just a week before Frink's death in 1993.
Despite appearances to the contrary and containing the highest and widest Gothic arches in the world, this prominent Grade 1 landmark is a 20th century building throughout, built over a period of 74 years during the great Depression, two World Wars and anything else the period cared to throw at the project. The architect was chosen from submissions from 103 architects including Charles Rennie Mackintosh (designer of Glasgow School of Art among other masterpieces), Charles Reilly (head of Liverpool School of Architecture and a fierce opponent Victorian Neo-Gothic and 'Arts and Crafts'), Temple Moore ( Gothic Revivalist to whom the eventual winner was still an articled pupil) and the winner Giles Gilbert Scott, a 22 year old with absolutely no track record of completed projects. He did, however, come from a family of famous architects covering several generations and from whom one of the assessors was related to by marriage. Perversely for the period, Giles Gilbert Scott was a Roman Catholic, contentious and almost unheard of at the beginning of the 20th century.
Concerning many other commissioned artworks within and without this church, a relative of mine, Edward Carter Preston, was appointed by Scott to create a series of sculptures the result of which were 50 sculptures, ten memorials and a number of reliefs over a period of 30 years. As far as I am aware ECP was an atheist - but so what?
Of course, many other artists were involved in this project including Carl Edwards (stained glass), Arthur Dooley and Ann McTavish (sculptor and embroiderer respectively, responsible 'Redemption'), the Scottish painters Craigie Aitchison and Adrian Wiszniewski, and so on...
Comments and faves
archer10 (Dennis) added this photo to his favorites. (9 months ago)
archer10 (Dennis) (9 months ago | reply)
Fantastic shot and perspective. Have a great day and keep smiling.
meghimeg(temporarily disconnected) added this photo to her favorites. (9 months ago)
meghimeg(temporarily disconnected) (9 months ago | reply)
super!
《毛泽东像章——红藏苑》 added this photo to his favorites. (9 months ago)
herman van hulzen (9 months ago | reply)
interesting explanation !
BDMbeercan (9 months ago | reply)
Great perspective and shot.
RuRaLaN (9 months ago | reply)
very well seen...
diet_sch (9 months ago | reply)
But that is not Manneken Pis?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis
JeremyRambles (9 months ago | reply)
just1snap (9 months ago | reply)
Fine shot.
..Tom and Rozanne Hakala added this photo to their favorites.
Rozanne Hakala (2 months ago | reply)
fantastic detail and textures... love the pov, too!