Manchester Cathedral, Manchester (must see)

Manchester Cathedral developed gradually over many centuries, with much of its present form dating from the fifteenth century. Built largely in a late medieval English style, it first served as a collegiate church before becoming a cathedral in the nineteenth century. The building is characterised by its broad nave, extensive timber structure, and finely worked furnishings that reflect both religious ceremony and civic prestige.

Although the cathedral suffered damage during the Second World War, careful restoration preserved its historic layout while introducing thoughtfully designed modern elements that sit alongside the medieval fabric of the building.

As you enter the nave, walk straight ahead toward the choir screen and continue into the quire, where you will find the medieval quire stalls and misericords, the most celebrated artistic feature of the interior. Look to either side to see the tall wooden stall fronts and layered canopy work, whose delicate tracery and moulding reveal the craftsmanship of the fifteenth century. Now look beneath the folding seats to discover the misericords. These small but expressive carvings depict animals, foliage, moral tales, and humorous scenes drawn from everyday medieval life. Their sharp lines and lively figures offer a rare insight into the imagination, values, and storytelling traditions of the period.

Return to the nave and pause in the central aisle. When you look upward, the hammerbeam roof becomes the dominant feature of the space. The great timber beams project outward across the width of the nave, creating a bold structural rhythm while also supporting carved angels and decorative bosses. This roof is one of the most impressive surviving elements of the medieval church and gives the interior much of its warmth and character, contrasting with the pale stone of the walls and arcades below.

From here, continue along the side aisles toward the chapels to encounter the cathedral’s modern stained-glass windows, installed during the post-war reconstruction. The most striking of these is the Fire Window, whose vivid colours and abstract forms introduce a strong visual contrast to the surrounding medieval architecture.