A new welcome

Chester Cathedral has stood at the heart of the city for almost 1,000 years. It is believed to have started its life as a church in the eighth century. Since 2013, we have carried out dozens of individual projects – large and small, intricate and routine – across the Cathedral’s Grade I-listed buildings.

The West Entrance Reordering reimagines Chester Cathedral, connecting it to the historic City of Chester.

At the centre of the reimagining of the West Entrance—the principal processional route into the Cathedral—is the glazed Pilgrim Porch. Designed by renowned sculptor Stephen Broadbent and implemented by DIA, this allows the oak great West Doors to be opened whilst the Cathedral is accepting visitors. Previously the cathedral appeared permanently closed, but views from the Nave now feature framed views of Town Hall Square.

The Pilgrim Porch echoes the theme of pilgrimage, with a shell motif inspiring the design. It sits on a new a new stone plinth and step, built into and onto the existing steps with new handrails guiding visors down to the Nave Floor.

The route takes processions around the Font, a 17th century black limestone monument repositioned as a key element of the reordering on a new stone plinth, reflecting the Cathedral’s heights in its water bowl.

Further layers of meaning are found on the glass doors, which is a labyrinth pattern formed from images sent by every church in the Chester Diocese. An interpretation panel allows parishioners to find ‘their’ church.