Having discovered the work of William Mitchell at the Cavendish hotel in London earlier this year, (cast your minds back here), I found more examples of Mitchell's textural sculptures on a visit to Liverpool. He created the strikingly modernist facade for the entrance to the Roman Catholic "Christ The King" Cathedral - one of two cathedrals in the city. "Christ The King" Cathedral is the largest Catholic cathedral in England and opened its doors in 1967. Plans to build a cathedral in the city had a long and convoluted history which saw initial designs submitted by Edward Welby Pugin (1833-1875), son of Augustus Welby Pugin, foremost architect of the Gothic Revival. It wasn't until the twentieth century however that the design of architect Sir Frederick Gibberd (1908-84), was selected out of 300 entrants in a competition for the building in 1961. Gibberd in turn, selected artists and sculptors to submit designs for the facade which would complement his architecture. Mitchell submitted some initial designs which were rejected. A second set of scaled back Mitchell designs were more successful when submitted, and chosen to grace the facade of the cathedral. It is such a pity that Michell's first triangular design for the bell tower (second picture from the bottom, below), was rejected for being "too busy" by the architect of the project - Frederick Gibberd - as I believe it would have made the building even more architecturally impressive, but the decision to reject the initial design may have also been made due to the strict budgetary concerns which were placed on the project. Mitchell's wonderfully textural, patinated doors represent excerpts from the Old Testament of the bible. You can find Mitchell's first-hand account of the creation of his artwork for the cathedral, and some interesting pictures of the commission, and the inauguration at his website here.
The design of the stonework facade relates to the New Testament.
The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel.
Also out of the midst therefore
came the likeness of four living creatures.
And this was their appearances: they had the likeness of a man.
And everyone had four faces and everyone had four wings.
And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot and sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and the four had their faces and their wings.
Their wings were joined one to another they turned not when they went; they went everyone straight forward.
As for the likeness of their faces the four had the face of a man and the face of a lion, on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
Thus were their faces; and their wings were stretched upwards to wings of everyone were joined one to another and two covered their bodies.
And this was their appearances: they had the likeness of a man.
And everyone had four faces and everyone had four wings.
And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot and sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and the four had their faces and their wings.
Their wings were joined one to another they turned not when they went; they went everyone straight forward.
As for the likeness of their faces the four had the face of a man and the face of a lion, on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
Thus were their faces; and their wings were stretched upwards to wings of everyone were joined one to another and two covered their bodies.
Revelation 4 - John the Divine
And round the throne were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
And the first beast was like a lion and the second beast like a calf; and the third beast had a face as a man and the fourth beast was as a flying eagle.
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within.
They rest not night nor day saying Holy, holy, holy.
Lord God Almighty: which was and is, and is to come.
Besides William Michell's contribution, the cathedral has further artistic provenance as evidenced in the collaboration between artists John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens who worked together to create the stained glass designs for the lantern tower, or "Crown of Glass" as it is also known for the Metropolitan Cathedral between 1963-7. The design for the tower's stained glass came from Reyntiens - who like Williams with his modernist sculptural facade - was similarly inspired by literature; in this case Dante. In the Purgatorio there is a description of the Trinity as three giant eyes of different colour winking at each other, which was to form the colourful design concept for the stained glass of the tower seen below.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ The King, Liverpool
Cathedral House
Mount Pleasant
Liverpool
L3 5TQ
Cathedral House
Mount Pleasant
Liverpool
L3 5TQ
