St. Alphonsa Of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Introduction

In January 2015 the church was used as a cathedral for the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of chisel-dressed sandstone ashlar with slate roofs. The church has a nave on a north-south axis with east and west aisles, a south tower with spire, transepts, and a chancel with chapels. The transepts have large 4-light traceried windows and small porches in the angles with the aisles. The chancel is four bays beyond the transepts with pilaster strips and traceried clerestory windows, and has various gabled side chapels.

The interior has 5-bay aisle arcades with clustered piers and moulded 2-centred arches, with inner shafts carried up to meet wall shafts of roof trusses with cusped open-arcading. The organ loft is in the tower with a choir gallery projected into the nave. The transept arches are large and confessionals were added at the end of each transept in 1885. The sanctuary has a large transomed window. The church has inner and outer chancel aisles with chapels at the north ends and various elaborate reredoses.

Music and liturgy

The Women's Forum within the Saint Alphonsa Cathedral parish provides a platform for women to share experiences, engage in spiritual activities, and contribute to the well-being of the church and its members. Since its inception in 2017, the Women's Forum has worked alongside women in the parish to build fellowship and empower their role in spiritual and cultural life.

Parish life

The Syro Malabar Youth Movement - Preston is a gathering of young people sharing Christian faith who are working and studying in the premises of Preston. SMYM was initially formed by a few youngsters in 2022 and expanded to form a youth community in union with Saint Alphonsa of Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Preston. SMYM's initiatives primarily involve daily youth rosary prayer, Gospel reading, youth confessions, Christmas caroling and fundraising programmes. SMYM activities include weekly gathering and monthly formal meetings with the parish priest.