107 Blackburn (GB) – Blackburn Cathedral - Walk on by?

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This is a cathedral I walked past every school day from 1976 to 1979, but never went in because I was busy being a Catholic (long story). But much later I got to like it and regularly go in when I am visiting my mother who lives just up the road in Oswaldtwistle. They do bellringing classes and have a cool café.

Very elegant pulpit and lectern in light wood. Unusual modern statue of Mary giving Jesus his bath when he was a small child, impressive stained glass. And modernist paintings for the Stations of the Cross. There are also a few fifteenth century praying seats.

The official name of the cathedral is Cathedral Church of Saint Mary the Virgin with Saint Paul. It was built in 1826, and much enlarged in the 1950s and 1960s.  The lantern   tower is very distinctive.
















































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