Everyday Living

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen”
Ephesians 3:20 

If someone had asked me what I knew about Liverpool, England prior to our visit in July, I would have said that it was the birthplace of the Beatles.  I have never been so pleasantly surprised by a city.  It was modern and energetic, but with a real sense of history!   Liverpool was a borough since 1207 and a city from 1880.  The city’s expansion was largely brought about by its status as a major port, which included its participation in the Atlantic slave trade.  Liverpool was the port of registry of the ocean liner RMS Titanic, and many other Cunard and White Star ocean liners such as RMS Lusitania and Queen Mary! It’s status as a port city has contributed to its diverse population, which was drawn from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions!  Tourism forms a significant part of the city’s modern economy.  Please join us as we take a tour of one of our favorite stops in the British Isles!

The Liverpool Waterfront is one of the most recognized skylines in the world. The Pier Head is a riverside location in the city centre and is part of the Unesco World Heritage Site.  The site encompasses a trio of landmarks!  One of these is the Royal Liver Building consisting of two clock towers, both crowned by mythical Liver Birds. 

 
The Port of Liverpool Building is one of the three buildings at Pier Head, that are also known as “Three Graces.”  It is noted for the large dome that sits atop it.

 
River Mersey at Liverpool gave its name to Merseybeat, developed by bands from Liverpool, notably the Beatles.

Water quality in the Mersey was severely affected by industrialization. With  campaigns to improve the quality, it was announced in 2009 that the river is cleaner than any time since the “industrial revolution”!

The Albert Dock is a complex of dock buildings and warehouses opened in 1846.  It was the first structure in Britain to be built from cast iron, brick, and stone, with no structural wood. As a result, it was the first non-combustible warehouse system in the world! 

 
The Albert Dock was considered a revolutionary docking system because ships were loaded directly from/to the warehouses!

 
Albert Dock featured  the world’s first hydraulic cranes.  Due to its open yet secure design, it stored valuable cargoes such as brandy, cotton, tea, silk, tobacco, ivory, and sugar!

 
Today the Albert Dock is a major tourist attraction.  The Merseyside Maritime Museum was one of the most interesting museums that we have visited and it was free of charge.  The international importance of Liverpool as a gateway to the world, including its role in the transatlantic slave trade and the RMS Titanic,  is shown in the museum’s collections!

 
Lusitania was a British ocean liner that was briefly the world’s largest passenger ship. She was launched by the Cunard Line in 1906.

 
The Atlantic slave trade took place across the Atlantic Ocean from the 16th through to the 19th centuries.  Estimates are that about 12 million Africans were shipped across the Atlantic. 

The International Slavery Museum was so moving and to think that modern day slavery is still going on is an horrific tragedy!

 
Unfortunately we were not able to capture the size of the Liverpool Cathedral (Church of England).  The total length is 207 yards making it the longest cathedral in the world!

The high altar in the Liverpool Cathedral!  The foundation stone was laid by King Edward VII in 1904 and the completion of the building was marked in October 1978 and attended by Queen Elizabeth II.

 
Gustav Adolfs Kyrka or the Scadinavian Seamen’s Church was built between 1883-1884.  Its unusual architecture caught our eye as we were walking.

 
Liverpool has a large colorful multi-cultural population, a high percentage of which is Chinese.  Liverpool Chinatown is the first chinatown established in Europe.  The entrance is landmarked by a beautifully crafted traditional Chinese arch, imported piece by piece from Shanghai! 

St. Luke’s Church is a former Anglican Church and is now a ruin!  It was built between 1811 and 1832. 

 
The church was badly damaged during the Liverpool Blitz in 1941, and remains as a roofless shell.  It now stands as a memorial to those who were lost in World War II.


The Three Graces…Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building, and the Port of Liverpool Building on Liverpool’s historic waterfront!

The Georgian architecture, waterfront skyline, their friendly culture, and the endless museums…these are just a few of the reasons why I found Liverpool a pleasant surprise on our visit to the British Isles!  Be sure to stay tuned for more on Liverpool’s very own Beatles and The Merseybeat in the coming weeks!

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