BLACKBURN CATHEDRAL

Blackburn Cathedral was formerly the parish church of St Mary the Virgin, becoming a Cathedral in 1926, when the Diocese of Blackburn was created. Essentially a Georgian building, designed by John Palmer and consecrated in 1826, it stands on a site reputedly associated with early Christianity. The foundation is believed to date from the year 596. By 1818 the old church was in disrepair and it was decide to build a completely new building. John Palmer was asked to build the new church. A pioneer of gothic revival of which St Mary’s must have been a very early example, it was still a Georgian church. This building forms the Nave of the Cathedral and was adorned as we see it today as part of the ‘completion scheme’ of the late 1960’s by the Architect Laurence King and rededicated in 1965 in the presence of HRH Princess Margaret. 

Shaw and Jagger Architects were invited, along with other architectural practices to compete for the role of Cathedral Architect. Louise Priestman, our head of conservation was successful in securing the post.

The Cathedral are embarking on a series of refurbishment projects that will sustain the building at the heart of the community.