Search Catholic churches in Liverpool
Find parishes across the city and wider Merseyside, and check their listed service times.
The Metropolitan Cathedral
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King crowns Mount Pleasant at one end of Hope Street, facing its Anglican counterpart at the other. Consecrated in 1967 to a startling circular design by Frederick Gibberd, it is affectionately known to Liverpudlians as "Paddy's Wigwam", a nickname that hints at the Irish community that willed it into being. Inside, the altar stands at the centre beneath a great lantern of coloured glass, so the congregation gathers around the Mass rather than in front of it. Beneath the modern building lies the Lutyens crypt, all that was built of an earlier and even grander design. The cathedral keeps a full timetable of Sunday and weekday Masses, with the choir singing the principal Sunday liturgy in term time, and it remains the mother church of the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
A deep Catholic heritage
Liverpool's claim to be England's most Catholic city rests on numbers and on memory. By the late nineteenth century the city held one of the largest Catholic populations in the country, and its parishes were among the busiest anywhere. Churches such as St Anthony's on Scotland Road and St Francis Xavier's in Everton, once said to be among the largest parishes in England, tell the story of that era, and the Jesuit church of St Francis Xavier remains one of the finest Victorian Gothic interiors in the north. The Benedictine, Jesuit and diocesan traditions all left their mark, and the city's Catholic schools, clubs and charities still shape everyday life. Hope Street itself, linking the two cathedrals, has become a symbol of the friendship between the city's Catholic and Anglican communities.
Typical Mass times in Liverpool
Parishes across Liverpool and Merseyside follow the familiar English pattern: a Saturday evening vigil, one or more Sunday morning Masses, and in many places a Sunday evening Mass. Weekday Mass is widely available, generally in the morning, with city centre churches offering times that suit workers and students. Several parishes are now grouped in families sharing clergy, which means Mass times can rotate between churches, and holiday seasons bring their own changes. The dependable habit is to check the parish newsletter or website in the week you plan to attend. Our church pages link through to parish websites wherever we have them, precisely so you can confirm the current timetable.
Browse Liverpool churches in the directory
Liverpool sits within Merseyside in our listings. Browse Roman Catholic churches in Merseysideto see parishes in the city, Bootle, Crosby, St Helens, Wirral and beyond, each with address, map and service times where known. For the city's whole church landscape, including its Anglican cathedral and free churches, see our guide to churches in Liverpool.
Frequently asked questions
Can visitors attend Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral?
Of course. Every Mass is open to all and free to attend. The cathedral welcomes sightseers too, but arriving for Mass needs no ticket and no booking; simply take a seat.
Why do people call it Paddy's Wigwam?
The nickname combines the building's tent-like silhouette with the Irish roots of the community that built it. It is used with affection in Liverpool, where the cathedral is a source of genuine local pride.
Is there a Mass near the city centre on a weekday?
Yes. The Metropolitan Cathedral and several central churches celebrate Mass on weekdays, at times designed to be reachable from offices and the universities. Check each church's listing and website for this week's times.