As a Cathedral church, St Peter's is the seat of the Bishop of Lancaster and the spiritual home of Catholics across the diocese. Here, each year, the Holy Oils are blessed by the Bishop at the Chrism Mass, which takes place on Maundy Thursday.
There are three oils: the oil of catechumens, used on those approaching baptism; the oil of Chrism, used at baptism, confirmation, ordination and for the consecration of churches; and the oil of the sick, used for anointing those who are ill or close to death.
The oils blessed here are distributed throughout the diocese. The supplies are displayed within the Cathedral as a sign of their importance in the sacramental life of God's people.