Liverpool University trip

This is a back-blip day, having been away in Liverpool viewing the University with Joe, so this will be a short blip - I'm exhausted!

Opposite the University is the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, which was completed in 1967. The competition to design the cathedral was held in 1959. The requirement was for a congregation of 2,000 to be able to see the altar, in order that they could be more involved in the celebration of the Catholic Mass, and second, for the Lutyens crypt to be incorporated in the structure. Gibberd, the architect, achieved all by designing a circular building with the altar at its centre and by transforming the roof of the crypt into an elevated platform, with the cathedral standing at one end of it.

Soon after opening, it began to exhibit architectural flaws. The cathedral authorities sued Frederick Gibberd for £1.3 million on five counts, the two most serious being leaks in the aluminium roof and defects in the mosaic tiles, which had begun to come away from the concrete ribs. A programme of repairs was carried out during the 1990s.

History lesson over...I thought is was interesting!

Anyhow, more of Liverpool tomorrow, but meantime, I loved the light that the new Stained Glass plynths threw up from the sun trying to break through the clouds.

Oh...and I loved the way the 'crown' and plynths were reaching up to heaven in this shot!