The Anglican Cathedral was begun in 1904 and only completed in 1978. It abounds in superlatives… the largest Anglican Cathedral in Europe, largest working church organ in the world (over 10,000 pipes), highest (219ft/67 m) and heaviest (31 tons) ringing peal of bells in the world, highest Gothic arches ever built, and so on, a veritable feast of craftsmanship. Gothic design but 20th Century built, mostly of local sandstone from a quarry 5 miles south of Liverpool City Centre, the vision of architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott who was only 21 yrs of age when he won the competition to build this magnificent Cathedral with a design that originally boasted twin towers. This was later to be modified to a single central tower.
The cache is not at the above coordinates, but is within sight of the cathedral and less than a quarter of a mile away. To find the cache first take a tour of the cathedral to find the value of the letters in the following equation ;
N53° (H+F) . ((A+A+C+E+G+I) x3)
W002° (I+A+G)÷4 . ((B+D+H+J) x10) - F
The checksum is 281. C, D, E, F and J are odd numbers, the rest are even.
Please Note - The long axis of the building is aligned North-South, with liturgical East and West therefore corresponding to geographical South and North, respectively.
At the North East Transept you will find the War Memorial Chapel housing three books containing the names of those who died in the service of The King's Regiment in each of the two world wars and in post war conflicts particularly in Korea, Northern Ireland, Iraq & Afghanistan. These books are permanently open for visitors to the Cathedral to see. Four times each year as part of the Evensong Service the pages or leaves of each book are turned.
A = how many lions are there around the base of the World War One roll of honour.
Behind and outside the high altar is the Ambulatory, connecting the two Choir aisles, and lighted by four two-light windows. At the North end of the Ambulatory lies the Chapter House, the gift of the Freemasons of the Province of West Lancashire, at the South the Lady Chapel.
B = how many saints can be seen in the Ambulatory windows (not kings!).
Consecrated for worship in 1910, the Lady Chapel's style is more elaborate than the main Cathedral body, reflecting the different approaches by Scott and co-architect George Bodley.
Partway along the north wall of the chapel you will find an elaborately decorated door with the word 'ALLELUIA' in large letters over the top. C = how many snails can be seen on the door?
Down on the floor in front of the High Altar is the Arms of the Diocese of Liverpool. The upper part of the shield shows an open bible and a galleon, representing the city’s maritime heritage. The eagle of St John was part of the original seal of Liverpool from the time of King John in 1207 when he developed the natural harbour for military purposes.
Etched on the floor directly north of these arms you will find a memorial to George Hampson Morrison. D = the sum of the last three numbers (add them together!).
Edward VII laid the Foundation Stone on Tuesday 19th July 1904 at a great open-air service, at the culmination of which the choir of a thousand voices sang Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.
E = how many times does the letter 'e' appear on the north face of the foundation stone?
Frederick Arthur,the 16th Earl of Derby,lies in this particular niche in the great building. Known as Lord Stanley of Preston between 1886 and 1893, he was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom who served as Colonial Secretary from 1885 to 1886 and the sixth Governor General of Canada from 1888 to 1893. An avid sportsman, he built Stanley House Stables, and is most famous for presenting the Stanley Cup.
Somewhere on the tomb is secreted a tiny bronze mouse - rub his nose for luck.
F = how many stags' heads appear on three sides of the tomb (more than 2!)?
George Bodley was assigned as Scott's co-architect to oversee the design. After his death in 1907 Scott revised his design from two towers to one. Work on the tower continued through the 1930s and into the first years of the Second World War, and in 1942 the final stone was laid at the top of the tower by Scott himself, three hundred and thirty one feet one and half inches (101 metres) above the Cathedral floor.
G = the number of points on the largest outer star in the ceiling above your head when standing on the architect's memorial.
Head into the Baptistry and you will find the magnificent font designed by Scott, featuring the figure of an apostle on each of it's twelve sides.
H = how many fish swim around the base of the font.
Invited by the Royal Fine Arts Commission to submit designs for new telephone kiosks, Scott's most well known design was for the General Post Office. The invitation came at the time Scott was made a trustee of Sir John Soane's Museum. His design in the classical style, but topped with a dome reminiscent of Soane's self-designed mausoleum in St Pancras' Old Churchyard, London, won favour. It was put into production in cast iron as the GPO's "Kiosk no. 2" or "K2".
I = the last three digits of the number for the phone box in the next chamber along from the Baptistry.
Just before you search for the final clue, stand facing the West Doors and look up over your left shoulder at the last stained glass window in the south wall. This is the Layman's Window featuring the co-architects Scott and Bodley.
J = how many hedgehogs can be seen around the doors.
Cathedral opening times
Flag counter added 29th August 2014