New Cathedral of St Michael

I would love to have seen the old St Michael's rebuilt, though I can appreciate the thinking behind making the new Cathedral a place to express the art and architecture of a later time. Also it does encapsulate some gems like the Chapel of Christ in Gethsemane, and the Chapel of Unity looking like a Crusader's tent from the outside. The Baptistry window is stunning, and the nice touch of the font, a boulder brought from Bethlehem. A lot of thinking went into the planning, and for its time, I think it expresses much.

I think we will eventually see a roof on the old cathedral, both for long term structural rigidity and to increase usage during inclement weather. However, I don't think it'll be a conventional roof like the old one, but more likely a transparent one to keep the feel of ruins. I'm sure had I been around at the time I would've been calling for the old cathedral to be redone rather than building the new one, but I kind of like it now with the contrast with the old and the remembrance the ruins of the old provides. It's also probably the most 'concrete-y' of all the post war stuff, especially inside but I like the way how it's very austere when you walk in but from the opposite end looking back it can look stunning with the light from the side windows. I've always been at bit at odds about the orientation of the new one though - as a church it should be E-W so it kind of feels like it's showing a great deal of disrespect. Had I been doing a design I think I'd have tried to get the site on the High St side so you'd have had an area enclosed on three sides by HT, old cathedral and 'new' - that could've looked stunning from Broadgate

Here a cross is being lifted into position in the entrance at Queen's Walk

A memorable one Prof. Those workmen would remember that day very well.

Here's a detail that is often overlooked Neil, the brass door knob on the glass doors:

The two Cathedrals in another view:

The canopy between old and new cathedrals

per Andy Marshall.co

I like the strong lines of the east end set off by the circular chapel of Christ the Servant.

Prof. It's the north end, actually, where the altar and tapestry are situated

Yes, physically it is, but liturgically it is East, though not in actual fact.

Mosaic dove in the Chapel of Unity

In case anyone was unaware . . .