Salford Cathedral will reopen its doors in July following a three-year programme of restoration, renewal and refurbishment that has transformed the cathedral
Our Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist will welcome worshippers and visitors back from Saturday 4 July, when a weekend of celebrations begins to mark the completion of this significant project.
Having served as the spiritual heart of the diocese for more than 175 years, the cathedral required extensive restoration to address longstanding repairs to its stonework and infrastructure while ensuring it could continue to meet the needs of a growing community.
A key element of the project has been the restoration of many of the cathedral’s historic features, including the reinstatement of original decorative schemes and the conservation of stained-glass windows, bringing renewed colour, vibrancy and beauty to this sacred space.
Alongside restoring the cathedral’s heritage, the project has also invested in its future. Improved facilities, increased flexibility, enhanced accessibility and a strong commitment to sustainability will help ensure the cathedral can continue to serve the people of the diocese for generations to come.
While much of the work focused on essential repairs to the fabric of the building, visitors will notice a remarkable transformation throughout the cathedral. Improvements include a new energy-efficient exterior lighting scheme, restored statues, renewed interior decoration, the repositioning of key liturgical features, and a new glass entrance on Chapel Street designed to offer a visible sense of welcome in the heart of the city.
Over the course of the past three years, on site contractors Simpsons of York have used 28,800 scaffolding boards, and around 283 miles worth of tubes.
They have also inducted 683 people to the job, and have recruited over 50% of the workforce from the Salford and Greater Manchester area.
In addition to this, Simpsons have recycled 215 tonnes of construction materials – around 98.6%.
A newly created treasury that will open in Autumn 2026 will house part of the Cathedral’s historic relic collection. We believe to be one of the largest in the UK. Donated in the 19th century, these relics form an important part of the Cathedral’s spiritual and historic heritage.
Canon Michael Jones, Dean of Salford Cathedral, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming our parish community and diocesan family back to our beautifully-restored cathedral this summer.
“Over recent years, we have welcomed ever increasing numbers of parishioners, particularly young people and families, searching for spiritual enrichment and the start of a lifelong relationship with God.
“This project afforded us the opportunity to not only make vital repairs and restore the sacred ambience of our cathedral church, but it has allowed us to adapt the cathedral for our growing parish community and to incorporate modern and sustainable features and technologies to provide an inspiring place of worship for generations to come.”
