3-052-757 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

St. Peter's Church, Liverpool, the cathedral of the new diocese, 1880. 'St. Peter's Church, situated in Church-street, Liverpool, is probably the most unpretending structure, either in England or Wales, that can boast of cathedral dignity...in Liverpool, now a city of several hundred thousand inhabitants, a plain parish church, has been raised to the rank of a cathedral...the simple building shown in our Illustration is better adapted for its purpose than may appear at first sight. It leaves for practical usefulness little to be desired...St. Peter's Church was commenced in the year 1699, but was not completed until 1704...In the latter part of the eighteenth century n*gro slaves were publicly sold within the shadow of this church tower...Oratorios were at one time performed within its walls. The first was "The Messiah," in 1788...The new cathedral will have a powerful assistant to its services in the Blue-Coat Hospital, an endowed building which dates back to the year 1709. The scholars are, boarded, and have a free education, and perform the fine choral services at St. Peter's Church'. The building was demolished in 1922. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.