Peterborough Cathedral

Peterborough Cathedral, a photo by fotofacade on Flickr.

What a truely awesome photograph from Andy Marshall of one of England's great Norman cathedrals.
The view shown is taken looking west from the walkway above the east end

St Peter at Arches, Lincoln

St Peter at Arches Lincoln demolishing 1932 REVIVALHERITAGE, a photo by revivalheritage on Flickr.

I have been neglecting this blog of late, but I hope to now get back into the habit of posting pictures of interest I have found.

This picture comes from Jack Hall's Revival Heritage photostream on flickr. It shows St Peter at Arches in Lincoln being "de-contructed" at its city centre site in 1932. It was subsequently reassembled (with improvements) as a suburban church in the city, St Giles.

I have long had an archive shot of St Peter's and actually went looking for it on my first visit to Lincoln, obviously without success!

St Denis, Aswarby, Lincolnshire

aswarby, a photo by mym on Flickr.

One of the best photos I have seen all year and just wanted to share it.

Manila Cathedral could collapse

The Manila Cathedral (Ash Wednesday), a photo by Gines.Photography on Flickr.

14th February 2012
Church officials said a study conducted by engineering firm Angel Lazaro & Associates, Inc. that this version of Manila Cathedral, rebuilt in 1958 after being destroyed during World War II, does not comply with the National Structural Code.

Stress tests conducted on cement samples showed some withstanding pressures of only 600 pounds per square inch (psi), well below the minimum 3,500 psi required for cement from 1958. Steel reinforcing bars that failed confinement tests were also cited as a concern.

What is even more worrisome is that the cathedral sits on soft ground or "potentially liquefiable soils", Fr. Reyes said, which means it could collapse in the event of an earthquake. "As it is, [Manila Cathedral] is not safe," he said.

Angel Lazaro has initially suggested "grouting," or pouring cement into the ground, to prevent liquefaction. Other options include increasing the building’s footing or installing piles of at least 38 meters. The structure of the cathedral itself will have to be retrofitted with carbon rods.

Initial estimates place the repair costs at P150 million but this figure could balloon depending on the extent of structural damage.

The Manila Cathedral Basilica Foundation has promised to help raise funds for the renovation-cum-restoration project, which is now in the design phase.

No drastic changes will be done to the facade, said Fr. Reyes. "We will, as much as possible, return it to what it is now."

This is the first time that the Manila Cathedral’s entire structure will undergo major repairs since it was completed in 1958. The last time it was partially renovated was after the 1990 Baguio earthquake, which caused the cathedral’s bell tower to lean

Interior of Belleville cathedral

Vast Space - Belleville cathedral, a photo by Zerstören on Flickr.

On the 4th January 1912 St Peter's Cathedral in Belleville, Illinois, was gutted by fire. The temeperature was so cold that firemen's hoses could not reach the eighty-feet high roof which was totally lost. However firemen stopped the fire reaching the bell tower which continued to toll the quarter hours and strike the hours during the fire.
This fine photograph shows the interior of the rebuilt cathedral

Good Shepherd Cathedral, Ayr, Scotland

Good Shepherd Cathedral, a photo by Mantawoman2009 on Flickr.

It seems being listed did not save this Catholic Cathedral from demolition.

Listing information [Grade C(S)]
Built 1955-57 to the designs of John Torry, refurbished in 1985. It became a cathedral in 1961 following the destruction of Dumfries Cathedral by fire.
Near-rectangular-plan Roman Catholic church with modernist Scandinavian. Brick. Cill band course to entrance elevation. Predominantly square-headed window openings. NE (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: gabled entrance porch; round-arched entrance; 2-pairs of timber doors; fanlight; flanking single windows; single windows to re-entrant angles; stepped E window to gable (central opening round-arched); cross to gablehead. 2 round-arched windows to return of canted bay to outer left. Square-plan tower to outer right; rectangular plaque; band course to 3 corniced openings; vertical round-arched narrow stair window; 2 windows flanking; smaller louvred square-plan bell-tower atop.
The church is a good example of post-war architecture with its distinctive brick work and cream stone detailing, ennobled by its fine square-plan tower

The cathedral closed in 2007 and largely demolished in 2010. The facade and tower have been kept as the site is turned into housing.

Christchurch Catholic Cathedral, NZ

It Say's it All!, a photo by Jocelyn Kinghorn on Flickr.

Work continues to assess the catholic cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and this picture shows that the cracked central dome and tower have been removed. Hopefully this will ensure that the interior can now be inspected and precious objects retrieved. Press reports suggest that although badly damaged what still stands is capable of rebuilding.

Christchurch Anglican Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral, a photo by Caacrinolaas on Flickr.

The damage to the cathedral, once the most recognisable building in the city, if not in New Zealand, is more serious than originally thought. An after shock brought down the rose window months after the original damage occurred. The authorities are deconsecrating the cathedral ahead of further controlled demolition which will allow further assessment of the remains and whether parts are capable of preservation.

Beverley Minster

Beverley Minster, a photo by mark_fr on Flickr.

One of my favourite churches in Britain, perfectly captured in this arial shot from Mark Fisher. I made Beverley the target of a day return trip by train many years ago, leaving Bristol at 7am and getting only two and a half hours here before I had to come home again. It rises like an ocean liner from the flat fields around it, and leaves an impression in the mind that lasts a lifetime.

Middlesex Hospital Chapel viewed from the BT Tower, London

GWUK2010-181, Middlesex Hospital Chapel viewed from the BT Tower, London, a photo by martin97uk on Flickr.

Demolition of the surrounding former hospital buildings have left this listed chapel isolated until the redevelopment begins. It is by John Lougborough Pearson and dates from 1890-91. The interior has much marble facing and brightly coloured mosaics. The hospital had been rebuilt 1929-35, and the architects son made sensitive alterations and added extra windows when the C18 and C19 adjoining structures were torn down.

St Michael's Church, Ipswich

St Michael's Church (Redundant) a photo by Dandelion And Burdock on Flickr.

Closed for the past ten years, this church was destroyed by fire overnight on 7th/8th March 2011. It was said to have the best Victorian interior in Ipswich with much polychromatic decoration and exposed red brick. A friend cycled by today and said the loss looks total, and it is almost certain to be demilished rather than rebuilt.

Saint John the Baptist's Church, Bollington, Cheshire

Saint John the Baptist's Church, Bollington, Cheshire
Originally uploaded by buildings fan

A beautiful picture of this Commissioner's Church of 1832-34 by Hayley and Brown. It is sad to hear that St Johns is to be declared redundant and sold.
It is built of Hammer-dressed buff sandstone with ashlar dressings, and has a Welsh slate roof. The church has a 5-bay nave, short chancel, west tower and small vestry at the east. Bays of nave, divided by set-back buttresses, have tall splayed 2-light windows with Y-tracery, under a continuous label mould. Embattled parapets. Nave ends in octagonal buttresses with pointed finials. Similar buttresses to chancel which has a triple lancet window. The four-staged tower has similar corner buttresses and on flanking walls. Rebated pointed west doorcase has a 3-light window with intersecting tracery above. 3rd stage has a clock and 4th stage louvred bell openings similar to nave windows. Embattled top.

The interior has galleries on three sides, erected in 1854, which have lancet moulded panels, and are supported on clusters of 4 thin iron columns.

Roman Catholic Cathedral, Christchurch, New Zealand

Roman Catholic Cathedral
Originally uploaded by d.jones

Following news of the earthquake this week, I was checking pictures of the cathedrals in Christchurch. I found this picture of the astonishing interior of the Blessed Sacrament Basilica. It was built 1901-5 to the designs of Francis Petre. Early reports say that the building has not been damaged to any great extent.

POSTSCRIPT The cathedral was shut after the September earthquake as a precaution , but the huge quake of 22 February 2011 brought down the two west towers, and cracks have appeared in the central dome. It was feared the cathedral was in imminent danger of collapse but hopefully now (April 2011) careful dismantling of the most dangerous sections which is likely to include the dome will mean stabilisation and reconstruction can be done and much of the cathedral can be saved.
Of course the Anglican cathedral, Christchurch, was also severely damaged and its landmark steeple collapsed. It is hoped the main church can be saved in any restoration and the city has vowed to rebuild the spire.

Jolo Cathedral, Philippines

CATHOLICISM
Originally uploaded by PINOY PHOTOGRAPHER

What an odd looking building, discovered on a flickr search today because of news that this cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of the Mount Carmel was damaged yet again in a grenade explosion earlier today (10th January 2010) which damaged window panes. this is the fourth attack in under a year.

On 31st December 2009, a grenade also exploded in front of the Cathedral, wounding one government soldier guarding it. On October 27, a grenade was lobbed by an unidentified man at the back of the cathedral and the explosion damaged several windows and a homemade bomb was detonated in front of the cathedral in June 2009, killing six people.

For years, soldiers and policemen have been guarding the cathedral because of threats of attacks against priests and nuns. In 1997, Abu Sayyaf militants shot dead Sulu Bishop Benjamin de Jesus as he was walking in front of the cathedral.

St. Gregory The illuminator Armenian Orthodox Church

St. Gregory The illuminator Armenian Orthodox Church
Originally uploaded by nersess

An astonishing modern cathedral in Armenia. I can do no better than quote the text provided by nersess on flickr.

The consecration of the foundations of the Cathedral of St. Gregory the illuminator in Yerevan City was carried out in 1996 by His Holiness Vazken I of blessed memory Catholicos of All Armenians. The construction works started in January 1997 according to the design of the honoured architect, Stephan Kyurkchian.
The Cathedral is a complex consisting of three churches: the Cathedral (Main Church) with 1700 seats and the Chapels of St. Drtad the King and of St. Ashkhen the Queen (both with 150 seats). The belfry with more than 30 arches and the court that will serve as a vestibule to all the churches are located at the entrance of the Cathedral. The halls for both the receptions and church-related activities are provided on the lower floor of the Main Church.
The Complex has been entirely built by the method of monolithic reinforced concrete construction; the orange tufa-stone from Ani, the historical capital of Armenia, has been used for the facing of the Cathedral. The consecration of the Cathedral - the symbol of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia - was carried out on September 23, 2001 by His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians, and now, with its whole beauty and majesty, it is visible from the numerous corners of Yerevan.

Helena Cathedral

Helena Cathedral
Originally uploaded by Gonzuller

What a wonderful picture this is, and a surprise perhaps that this is the USA.
Begun in 1908 to the designs of A O Von Herbulis, the cathedral was not completed until 1924. The twin spires recall the Votive Church in Vienna, but the south tower had to be rebuilt after being almost destroyed in the series of earthquakes which shook Montana in 1935. Inside a wonderful series of stained glass windows, all made by F X Zetler in Munich, Germany.

St. Mary, Bicton, Devon

St. Mary, Bicton
Originally uploaded by recursion_see_recursion

The medieval church lies in ruins on a slightly different site. This one sits on the lawns in the formal gardens at Bicton House (now College). It was built to the designs of John Hayward, c1850. The ruins were given a chancel like building by Pugin, which is in fact a mausoleum for the Rolle family. This picture is awesome, and the setting is rather unique.

St Peter's Church, Pontardawe, Glamorgan

St Peter's Church Pontardawe
Originally uploaded by titian2009

Another view of this very unusual church.

St Peter's Church, Pontardawe, Glamorgan

St Peter's Church, Pontardawe
Originally uploaded by Aberdare Blog

I first saw this church some 13 years ago, driving up from the motorway, where it took my breath away. OK so it is Victorian, but I have never seen such a tall slim tower topped by such a tall spire. Sadly that day I did not have my camera with me.

Built 1858-60 at the expense of W M Parsons, local iron master, who insisted that the spire be taller than his factory chimneys (which have long disappeared). Architect was J H Baylis, and the spire reaches 197 feet (60 metres).

Church in a snowstorm

DSCF6813
Originally uploaded by Matthew Garrett

The church of All Saints, Blackheath, London - taken during the snowfall in London at the start of February by Matthew Garrett.