Salford Cathedral

Restoring the Glory

Introduction

The restoration and renewal of Salford Cathedral has transformed one of Greater Manchester's most significant Grade II* listed buildings, securing its future as a place of worship while enabling its long-term legacy to become one of the UK's most sustainable cathedrals.

Working alongside cathedral architect Chris Cotton, Purcell acted as delivery and conservation architect for the Diocese of Salford's ‘Restoring the Glory’ project. The three-year programme of works to the 175-year-old landmark looked to balance the careful conservation of its historic fabric with the environmental, liturgical and accessibility requirements of a 21st-century working cathedral.

Salford Cathedral: Restoring the Glory

Watch those involved with project reflect on what has been achieved over the last three years.

In numbers

2300

gold stars stencilled individually on to the ceiling

42%

improvement on annual energy consumption

28

stained glass windows fitted with Environmental Protection Glazing

A holistic approach to conservation

The ‘Restoring the Glory’ project addressed the building in its entirety. Extensive external repairs included complete re-roofing, stone conservation and cleaning, alongside the conservation of every historic stained-glass window. Internally, the cathedral has been fully redecorated, historic fixtures and fittings reinstated, bespoke liturgical furniture introduced, and longstanding structural and fabric issues resolved.

The project was informed by extensive archival research, historic photographs and discoveries made during construction, allowing lost architectural features to inform the renewed design while ensuring the building continues to meet the needs of a living cathedral.

Towards becoming the UK's most sustainable cathedral

The Diocese of Salford set ambitious targets for the cathedral to achieve net zero carbon by 2038. The environmental strategy was developed in collaboration with the Universities of Manchester and Salford, using energy modelling to demonstrate how historic buildings can meaningfully contribute to the UK’s net zero ambitions without compromising their heritage significance.

Working within the constraints of a highly significant listed building, we developed a fabric-first strategy combining sensitive conservation with carefully integrated environmental upgrades to make the building more energy efficient. A new underfloor heating system and upgraded lighting have been introduced alongside secondary conservation glazing to every stained-glass window, significantly reducing energy loss while improving the environmental conditions for the historic glass itself.

Rainwater harvesting, redesigned rainwater drainage systems and carefully considered material choices further improve the building’s long-term environmental performance, ensuring future maintenance remains efficient and reducing the need for intervention.

Reinterpreting a historic interior

One of the defining elements of the project is the reordering of the cathedral floor.

Research into archival material and archaeological discoveries revealed fragments of the original Victorian flooring, including the distinctive red and black chequered nave and richly decorated encaustic tiles within the eastern chapels. Rather than replicating these directly, the new design carefully reinterprets the historic arrangement for contemporary use.

Purbeck limestone was selected for its long association with ecclesiastical architecture and exceptional durability. A chequered arrangement through the nave references the original floor, while calmer limestone surfaces within the aisles and transepts improve legibility and guide movement through the cathedral. Newly introduced encaustic tiles restore richness to the eastern chapels, drawing directly on colours and patterns uncovered during construction.

Installed over a dry screed underfloor heating system, the new floor discreetly integrates modern services while respecting the cathedral’s historic architecture.

Celebrating craftsmanship

Craftsmanship was central to the success of the project.

Purcell worked directly with specialist craftspeople throughout the design and construction process, collaborating on decorative painting, joinery, blacksmithing, liturgical furniture, stonework and stained-glass conservation. Rather than specifying every detail, the design team developed clear design intent while allowing skilled makers to contribute the final flourishes that make the work their own.

This collaborative approach reflects the traditions of medieval cathedral building, where the individuality and expertise of craftspeople are expressed through the fabric of the building itself. The result is a series of carefully crafted interventions that are both technically robust and rooted in centuries of ecclesiastical craftsmanship.

Improving access for all

The project has transformed how the local community experience the cathedral.

The principal spaces can now be accessed on a level route, significantly improving accessibility for worshippers, visitors and the clergy. New services have also enhanced comfort, while careful interventions have strengthened the cathedral’s ability to accommodate worship, community events and cultural activities throughout the year.

Throughout the project, Purcell worked closely with the Diocese, clergy and congregation, hosting consultations, presentations and virtual reality visualisations to share proposals and ensure the restored cathedral reflected both its heritage and its living community.

A cathedral for future generations

‘Restoring the Glory’ demonstrates how conservation-led design can preserve an internationally significant place of worship and safeguard its future for generations to come.

By combining meticulous repair, exemplary craftsmanship and ambitious environmental interventions, the project celebrates Salford Cathedral as both a landmark of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture and a vibrant centre for worship, learning and community life.