THE EXTERIOR

St Peter’s Cathedral , designed by Edward Paley of Lancaster, is built in a Gothic style of the early 14th century. It is made of sandstone ashlar and has slate roofs, except for the Baptistery roof which is made of copper.

The graceful spire rises to a height of 240ft, surmounted by a copper cross 9 feet 10 inches high and 4 feet across, and  with three tiers of lucarnes on the cardinal faces.


THE INTERIOR

St. Peter’s Cathedral is 157 feet long with an 80 feet transept. The height from floor to ceiling is 74 feet The Cathedral was built in the shape of a cross to remind people of how Jesus died. The stem of the cross is the main hall called the NAVE, separated from the aisles which are both 90 feet long and 12 feet broad by fine lofty arches resting on circular pillars of Yorkshire Stone, with finely carved caps and moulded bases.  At the eastern end, facing the Holy Land, is the CHANCEL with the High Altar. The arms of the cross are formed by the TRANSEPTS which point to the north and south.

Starting at the West end of the Cathedral:-

THE NORTH DOOR

During the Jubilee Year of 2000, the North door or funeral door became the Holy Door and was opened by the late Bishop John Brewer during midnight Mass at Christmas 1999. Previously, this door had been used for receiving coffins into the church prior to a funeral. During the Jubilee Year of 2000, this door is used as the preferred entrance to the Cathedral. A plaque is set into the floor nearby and is inscribed A.D. 2000.

In the corner to the left of the door is a plaque on which the names of the previous pastors of the church can be found.
In the other corner on the right is the door leading to the bell tower. In 1879 Mr. J Gardner of Greaves left £1000 in his will to buy eight bells, two more were added later. In 1993 the bells were re-hung.


ST PETER'S STATUE

The statue of St. Peter is of a bronze colour, of imperishable wood except the right foot which is bronze metal. It is a fac-simile of the one in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Its height seated is 6 feet, and represents St Peter clad in a toga, or Roman gown, holding two massive keys in his left hand, the right hand being raised as if giving the Papal Benediction. The Papal chair is of finely carved wood and painted in imitation of white Sicilian marble. The statue was stained to keep up the resemblance to the original statue in Rome.

SIDE WINDOWS IN THE NORTH AISLE

These form a series depicting the life of St. Peter as is shown by the inscriptions below each window.

First Window- This window is a memorial to Dean Brown. Its three lights  depict the Call of St. Peter; Our Lord teaching from his boat and the miraculous draught of fishes. The tracery above shows St. Peter’s Rome on one side and this church; St. Peter’s, Lancaster on the other.

Second Window - represents St. Peter walking on the waves; Our Lord washing Peter’s feet and the denial. The tracery has the tiara and angels.

Third Window - in memory of Provost Walker, shows Peter preaching at Pentecost; at the Council of Jerusalem, and his delivery from prison. In the tracery are the words ‘Feed my lambs, feed my sheep’ (cf John 21:15)

Fourth Window - depicts St. Peter raising Tabitha to life; the Vision of “Domine, quo vadis” and  St Peter’s Crucifixion.
All the scenes illustrate events mentioned in the New Testament except the last two lights which are legendary.

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS

The Stations of the Cross depict Christ’s journey to His Crucifixion. They are placed around the Cathedral and by stopping at each one, people can re-live the journey made by Jesus.

THE ENGLISH MARTYRS' WINDOW

This window is on the wall of the north transept above the Baptistery. The subjects chosen for this beautiful four-light window are four of the most illustrious of the English Martyrs who suffered death for their religion.

The first light shows St. John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, in the regalia of a Cardinal, a title bestowed on him while he was awaiting execution. The medallion below represents Fisher kneeling at the king’s feet entreating him not to divorce Catherine of Aragon.

The second light is of St. Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of England, dressed in the robes of that high office, with Golden collar of S.S. round his neck. In his right hand he holds a bag embroidered with the royal monogram and crown, containing the great seal of the kingdom. In his other hand is a book indicating his fame as a man of letters and a martyr’s palm. The pensive face and head crowned with quaint cap is from a portrait by his friend Holbein. The subject below depicts his meeting with Bishop Fisher, to which both of them had been summoned in order to have the oath of Royal Supremacy tendered to them. More saluted the Bishop with the words: “Well met my Lord; I hope we shall soon meet in heaven”.

The third light depicts Blessed John Houghton, Prior of the London Charterhouse, in the simple habit of the Carthusian Order, carrying a palm and pressing a book of Holy Scriptures to his breast.

The final window is of the first missionary priest to be executed in England, St. Cuthbert Mayne. He wears the full vestments of his priestly office, for exercising which he was put to death.


THE BAPTISTERY

The Baptistery, one of the finest in the north of England, was designed by Austin and Paley, and added in 1901 at the cost of £4000. It is enclosed by wrought iron gates and is constructed of flecked Runcorn stone. It is octagonal in shape and its roof is made of copper. At the sides of the gates are statues of Processus and Martinianus who, according to legend, were St. Peter’s jailers in Rome and were baptised by him. This story is depicted in one of the baptistery windows, beneath the representations of SS Peter and Paul. Other windows show Processus and Martinianus again, Philip baptising the Ethiopian and St Augustine of Canterbury, shown baptising King Ethelbert, and St. Paulinus. The windows are all by Shrigley and Hunt of Lancaster.

The Baptismal Font which stands in the centre of the Baptistery is made of Connemara marble and is supported by four minor pillars of marble. The oak font cover is a spirelet suspended from a chain. The green marble circular bowl rests on a central pillar. Around it is the inscription, “When we were baptised in Christ Jesus we were baptised in his death”.

On the right of the Baptistery is a carved altar, the front of which represents the Baptism of Our Lord. The arcaded reredos houses the statues of St. Thomas of Canterbury, St. Chad, St. William of York and St. Richard of Chichester. The altar houses relics of SS Innocent and Justus, martyrs, and was consecrated on 27th August 1901.  The altar was carved by Boulton of Cheltenham.

The small windows outside the Baptistery show - King Herod with his sword drawn and a child under his foot - the other has Jesus holding a child.

THE OLD CATHEDRA

During the restoration of the Cathedral in 1995, a new cathedra (bishop’s chair) was constructed. At the same time the old cathedra was restored and placed between the Baptistery and the Lady Chapel. It is made of carved oak and bears the diocesan coat of arms.

THE LADY CHAPEL

The Dalton family who lived at Thurnham Hall donated this chapel. The altar is made of veined marble, and the panels depict the Annunciation and the birth of Our Lord.
The reredos is of veined marble the central figure being that of Our Lady, in white statuary marble, under a lofty canopied niche and is one of the finest sculptured gems in the church.
The window above is by Shrigley and Hunt of Lancaster, and shows the Visitation and the Presentation in the Temple.

THE SANCTUARY

This is the focal point of the Cathedral, where the Gospel is proclaimed and the Holy Sacrifice of Mass is offered. The ambo (pulpit), altar and the cathedra (bishop’s chair) date from the restoration of the Cathedral in 1995, as do the corona lucis (crown of light) above the altar, and the gates which give access to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

The brass plaques on either side of the sanctuary honour the Lancaster Martyrs and Rev. Richard Brown, founder of St. Peter’s.

The gates of the Sanctuary lead to the
THE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL

This was restored in 1995 to its original splendour. The Altar has a front of white marble and depicts the Last Supper. The tabernacle is made of wrought steel covered with gilded bronze plates. The Cross is of silvered bronze, and the figure of Christ is of ivory. These, along with the Triptych, date from the Golden Jubilee of the church in 1909 and were designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

The chapel is vaulted in wood and decorated in gold and colours. Four windows with stained glass emblems of St. Peter light it. The East window contains three scenes. The middle one shows Our Lady with eleven Apostles watching as Jesus ascends into Heaven. On the right, St. Peter receives the keys of Heaven. On the left, St. Paul is converted. Below the East Window are eight ornamental arcades of Caen Stone, each bearing subjects painted in oil colours. The upper walls are decorated with a procession of Saints; female saints on the north side and male saints on the south side.

Above the High Altar is a painted Roof Boss showing God in His Majesty, holding an orb which represents the world.

The Triptych (now restored to its original position as a reredos behind the altar) is a three panelled screen made up of a total of 32 panels in which are carved scenes from the Passion, and (in the two side panels) portraits of saints and scenes from the Bible. Up above, St. John and Our Lady stand at the side of Jesus on the Cross.

The Convent Chapel is seen through the ornamental iron screen.

Carved oak stalls designed by Austin and Paley and carved by Bridgeman of Lichfield in 1899, are on each side of the chapel. These canopied stalls were made for the choir and have angels, playing musical instruments, carved at each end. The front depicts scenes from the life of St. Peter. The seats can be tipped up and have various carvings on them. The stall on the north side bears the coat of arms of the previous Bishops of Lancaster.