This week we’d like to show you a part of the cathedral that most visitors would not usually see – the sacristy.
The cathedral sacristy remains largely unchanged since the church was built, as you can see in the photo comparison showing the sacristy circa 1900 compared to present. There is a beautiful wooden vaulted ceiling surrounded by leaded glass which makes it a very light and airy space in the daylight. The huge safe manufactured by Milners of Liverpool and London, claims to be ‘powderproof’. The original cathedra (seat of the Bishop) which was on the high altar before the reordering of the 1980s is still in use on the main altar in the cathedral, with the seat in the sacristy thought to be from the original high altar and possibly one of the seats that adjoined the cathedra.
There is access to cathedral house, the blessed sacrament chapel, a washroom and to walk in cupboards used for vestments all from the main room. Some modern requirements are also housed in the sacristy such as the control equipment for the cathedral sound system.
