The Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of Christ the King, is one of the most striking modern churches in the United Kingdom. Located in the heart of Liverpool, it serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool. Its dramatic circular design and towering lantern-shaped crown have earned it the affectionate nickname “Paddy’s Wigwam,” though the building itself is a serious architectural landmark. The cathedral was

completed in 1967 and designed by the architect Sir Frederick Gibberd, whose vision broke away from traditional Gothic layouts and embraced a bold modernist style.

Beneath the main cathedral lies the Lutyens Crypt, the only completed section of an earlier grand cathedral project designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the 1930s. That original plan would have created one of the largest churches in the world, but financial difficulties and the Second World War halted construction. Today, the crypt survives as a fascinating reminder of that ambitious vision and is used for exhibitions, concerts, and community events. Its vast brick arches and underground passages feel almost like the hidden chambers of an ancient ruin beneath the modern cathedral above.