The most beautiful religious buildings United Kingdom

Few cities can boast of having two cathedrals! At least one story was as rich as Liverpool's to get there. During the Great Famine (), half a million Irish found Refuge on the Banks of the Mersey. Many were from America, but many others chose to stay. A majority of Catholics, the question of finding them a place of worship, then arises quickly. In 1856, Lady Chapel emerged from land but will never be a cathedral, and eventually destroyed in the 1980 s. When a land was acquired at the north end of Hope Street in 1930, Sir Edwin Luyters was charged with building a building worthy of the project of the Anglican neo-Gothic neighbour. His bold plans imagine the second largest church in the world, inspired by the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome. It is not counting on war, which puts an end to the project, judged too costly. Only the crypt will be completed. In 1953, the man returning to the torch is other than Adrian Gilbert Scott, the brother of Giles! But the story would have been too good, and neither did he come to his ends. It is to Sir Frederick Gibberd that we have the visible version today, completed in 1967. Its facade impresses with its crown tower that rises towards the sky and its spatial shapes show completely with the initial sketches. In the interior, beautiful modernist stained glass stained glass stained glass windows come to light in the light of the sun and cast colorful lueurs on the walls. The circular and celestial form of the room leaves without a voice and transports completely over time.

Founded in the ^13th century on an island in the Lake of Menteith, Inchmahome Priory is accessible by a small ferry from the village of Port of Menteith. The crossing is included in the ticket, which allows you to visit this historic site that saw the passage of King Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. Now partially in ruins, it still retains a certain charm, thanks to its location and its stones carved in the chapter house. This haven of peace is worth taking the time to walk around and discover its secrets.

Dating from the 13th century, this cathedral was seriously damaged in 1570 and was finally restored in 1835 at the instigation of the Countess of Sutherland. Nowadays, the most striking features are the numerous gargoyles and the square tower, which can be climbed during the summer. Legend has it that the gargoyles were evil spirits that were driven out of the cathedral by the ringing of the bells and turned into stones. The stained glass windows on the north side of the choir are also very interesting: they represent music, peace and literacy.

Beautiful church. The main tower dates from the 6th century and was built by the Normans, while the rest of the building dates from the 15th century. Celtic chiefs and priests were of equal status and it was customary for the chief to give the priest a piece of land with a stream or other watercourse as a boundary, to build a church on. It's the case at Nevern.

In the church is the "Vitalianus Stone" (a tablet dating from the ^5th century with inscriptions in Ogham, an old Celtic alphabet of Irish origin, and in Latin)

The foundation stone for Glasgow Cathedral was laid in 1136 in the presence of King David I and the building that stands proudly above the city today was completed in 1197. Since then it has been a prominent place of worship and its roof has never been destroyed, which is rare for such old walls. It is dedicated to Saint Mungo, also known as Saint Kentigern, the first bishop of the ancient kingdom of Strathclyde, who is buried in the crypt. In Scotland, it is the best preserved religious building of the 12th century, which has not been altered by the Reformation or by conflicts.

On the hill next door is the Victorian necropolis of the city. It was established on 15 hectares in 1832, where 50,000 people were buried and some 3,500 monuments now stand. Some are of great beauty, and the Celtic crosses and statues are worth a visit. It is a rather poignant and mysterious place, which commands a beautiful panorama of the surroundings. Several monuments are worth seeing: John Knox Monument, an imposing monument overlooking the cemetery erected to pay homage to the man of faith, and The Bridge of Sights, described as "the separation between time and eternity", as well as a more discreet and recent monument erected in honour of William Wallace, marked with the famous quote: "I am Scotland's Guardian. Though my body has been broken, my spirit will rise again to the sound of freedom.

Completed in 1224, this historic cathedral dedicated to the Holy Trinity did not suffer from the wars of independence, but was damaged by fire in 1270, 1390 and 1402. Its influence on the region was immense and its architecture among the most elaborate in the country. Now largely in ruins, its splendid west façade, the Stone Bishop statue in the nave, the Pictish cross and the largest tombstone in Scotland, five metres high and dedicated to the Anderson family, can still be appreciated today. Guided tours take place in July and August.

The remains of this noble cathedral bear witness to a much larger building, which was the epicentre of Catholic Scotland in the Middle Ages. Abandoned after the Reformation, it fell into disrepair and ruin, so that many of its stones were reused for other buildings. It was not until 1826 that some attention was paid to its preservation and attempts were made to perpetuate it. The St Rule's Tower at its heart is older than it is and was part of the early 12th century church that preceded it.

Founded in 1138 by David I, Jedburgh Abbey is one of the four great abbeys built in the Borders in the Middle Ages. It is also one of the best preserved and its influence was such that it owned as many as twenty churches in the surrounding area. Its location close to the border, however, did not bring it luck and it was a prime target during the many conflicts with England, such as the wars of independence. We still appreciate the quality of its Romanesque and Gothic architecture despite the damage of time.

A masterpiece of architect Christopher Wren, who was responsible for its reconstruction after the Great Fire of 1666, the current cathedral is in fact the fifth cathedral built on this site since the construction of the first church dedicated to Saint Paul in 604. It was the first Anglican cathedral in 1534 and its choir has served as a reference for all Anglican churches in the country. The restoration of the cathedral was decided shortly before the fire and finally it was its reconstruction that began in 1675 and was completed in 1710. Wren has already proposed restoration plans and he sees the end of the work when he is almost 80 years old, in other words it is his life's work. He is buried there. The plan of the church is in the shape of a cross, you enter through the vast nave which opens the view on the dome and the choir. The architecture is largely inspired by the Italian Renaissance and the Baroque. Its majestic dome stands proudly in the middle of La City, its white stone sparkling in the sun. Wren had in mind a dome that could be seen from far away, but he also wanted the interior paintings to be visible from the cathedral floor. He therefore built two domes, an interior, of which only the concave part can be seen, and an exterior, of which only the convex part can be seen. This dome is accessed by an endless staircase leading to a gallery, the Whispering Gallery. Its name comes from a resonance phenomenon that makes it possible to hear a whispered whisper on the other side. Another series of steps and a staircase later, you will reach the second gallery, the stone gallery and finally the gold gallery, this time outside the cathedral and offering a 360° view of the capital. The effort (530 steps all the same) is worth it, especially in good weather, because you are overlooking the city centre. The cathedral rises 110 m, or 365 feet. Finally, discover the basement of the cathedral which houses the crypt, a pantheon of the nation's great men. In the centre of the crypt is the tomb of Admiral Nelson, decorated with a crown carved from the wood of the mast of L'Orient, a French ship destroyed at the Battle of Abukir. In the painters' corner are the graves of Turner, Reynolds and Lawrence, as well as monuments dedicated to Constable, Van Dyck and William Blake. At the far east end, the chapel of the Order of the British Empire was built to pay tribute to the veterans of the First World War.

St. Giles' Cathedral has become an icon of the Edinburgh skyline because of its crown-shaped bell tower. The first stones still visible were laid in the 12th century, but most of the building dates from the 15th century. It is the most important place of worship of the Church of Scotland in its capital. It is dedicated to Saint Giles, a Greek hermit who lived mainly in France between the 7th and 8th centuries. Protector of lepers and the lame, he was particularly popular in the Middle Ages, so much so that he became the patron saint of Edinburgh. Inside, don't miss the central pillars, the oldest witnesses of the place, nor the stained glass windows which are impressive. Also worth seeing are the stained glass window dedicated to the poet Robert Burns, the statue of John Knox and the quotation that sums up the character's commitment: "Give me Scotland or I die", the authors' "corner" and the organ. The Thistle Chapel, built in 1911, has a richly decorated ceiling and carved woodwork of great aesthetic quality. For example, an angel can be seen playing the bagpipes. It is also possible to gain height with paying guided tours on the roof (beware, they are quickly sold out!). Volunteer guides are also present to tell you all about the secrets and beauties of the building. Masses are always celebrated in the building (on Sundays at 8, 10, 11.30 and 8 pm) and concerts are regularly organised.

It is the largest cathedral in the United Kingdom, and the fifth in the world! It's even in competition with the St. John the Divine of New York, for the first place of the Anglican churches… Its construction was completed only in 1978, after 74 years of work. Wars did not help, and the Luftwaffe gave it many damage. And yet its neo-Gothic look give it much older air. It is even a historic monument! The architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott was only 23 years old when he drew the plans. And the prodigy has more than one icon to his assets: they also have the red telephone booths that are found throughout the country and right in the right wing of the building. Unfortunately, he died 18 years before the opening ceremony, where the Queen was present. Its 100-metre tower makes it the third largest building in Liverpool and its ascent provides breathtaking views over the entire city. Don't miss the monumental organ and beautiful stained glass windows. The free cathedrals are quite rare in England, so it would be foolish to deprive them of it…

The cathedral, built in 1333, is the largest and most beautiful in England. It is a set of lawns and old buildings. Even today, the enclosure is closed every evening and the residents each have their keys.

One of the three Cistercian abbeys of the country and which has inspired many artists. William Wordsworth wrote in Lines Composed A Few Miles above Tintern Abbey: "Five years have passed; five summers as long / Only five endless winters! And again I hear / These waters that roll from the springs of the mountains / With a soft earthly murmur. - Again / I can admire these high escarpments / Which in this wild and almost deserted place give birth / The idea of greater solitude, and unite / The landscape to the peace of heaven. - The Day / It came for me to calm down again."

The abbey was built in 1131 by the Cistercian order and was, until 1536, the place of retreat for monks. The site, surrounded by wooded valleys and on the other by the river, proved to be favourable to their desire to return to the monastic precepts of Saint Benedict, isolating themselves to reject all forms of material temptation and seek spiritual peace.

Today, we drive under majestic arches in the open air, in a superb natural setting, to the delight of the eyes. Tintern is one of the few abbeys to have been preserved during the war led by Edward II. Today, the abbey still has the 72-metre-long Gothic church, the ruins of the domestic quarters and the novice hall. The abbots were often buried in the church, some tombstones still remain. Although in ruins, Tintern remains the best preserved medieval abbey in the country and is worth a visit.

This gigantic cathedral is one of the most beautiful in the world and is the undisputed icon of the whole city and indeed of Yorkshire. In 1220, the Archbishop of York decided to replace the Norman building that stood there with a jewel of Gothic architecture capable of rivaling Canterbury, the superb neighbour to the south. The challenge was met! This colossus can even tease Notre Dame, and its medieval stained glass windows (West Window) are considered the most brilliant in Britain. But it's the whole thing that is so beautiful, and it's a delight from the inside as well as the outside. During your visit, don't miss the statues of the King's Screen and the organ which is leaning against it. The circular Chapter House is also absolutely enchanting. For a small additional fee, you can reach the top of the Minster from the central tower. The views over the city and the Yorkshire countryside are breathtaking. As are the very narrow and steep stairs leading up to it... However, beware of peak hours and busy days, when the building is quickly taken over by groups of tourists. If you don't have enough time, at least take a tour outside.

Undercroft. When the Minster threatened to collapse in the 1970s, salvage attempts revealed some 2,000-year-old rubble.Descend into the bowels of the earth to view the remains of an ancient Roman fort, original early foundations and finds around a Saxon cemetery

Saint Augustine's Abbey was built in 1140 and, by 1542, the building had expanded to form the new cathedral. A fine example of Gothic architecture, it boasts a sumptuous and imposing chapter house, the meeting place of the monks. The nave was destroyed in the ^16th century, then rebuilt in the ^19th century according to its original medieval plan. It forms a large, uniform hall with the choir and aisles, which are the same height. A must-see in Bristol. The gardens surrounding the church are equally beautiful.

The site was under British influence throughout the Middle Ages. Now in ruins, the place is worth a visit for its high gothic windows on the east side, the layouts of the chapter house and the refectory which give an idea of the grandeur of the heyday of piety. The marshes around the river Quoile are also interesting to walk around. Fans of Game of Thrones will not miss passing through here, as the place was used as a backdrop for a scene in the series, when the Starks asked to meet the Freys to cross the river!

According to legend, the site was a Druidic monument before becoming a Roman temple dedicated to Apollo. A first Christian church was built there in 660, and in 875, the relics of St. Werburgh of York were brought here to protect the population from Viking incursions. In 1092, Hugh Lupus, the nephew of William the Conqueror, began the construction of a large monastery; the building underwent many modifications before becoming a cathedral in 1541. Today, it is particularly famous for its pink stone architecture in the rich Gothic style. We appreciate its magnificent 12th century choir and its perfectly restored cloister.

Built in 1130, on the model of the rotunda of the church of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, this small church is in Romanesque style, one of the four medieval round churches in England. Bill Gates, the Dalai Lama and Queen Victoria have all walked through his door! It is the second oldest building in the city. Don't miss this amazing round stone architecture. Inside, a 20-minute video projection invites you to discover the history of Cambridge. This church is therefore a good starting point for a visit to the city.

Rosslyn Chapel is a must-see for lovers of art history, esotericism, symbolism, religious enthusiasts and fans of The Da Vinci Code. It will surprise you by the multiplicity of its stories: that of the green man in particular. We learn that the face of the green man is none other than that of Adam, reminding us that we have within us the seeds of good and evil, and that we have the freedom to cultivate them. You will soon understand why the chapel is described as "a poem of stones, erected by the stars" (Thomas Ross) and why Queen Victoria declared it a jewel to be preserved. You will also discover that the place did not only inspire Dan Brown, but that before him, the great Scottish poets had praised it: Sir Walter Scott in The Lay of the Last Ministrel, but also Robert Burns. You will meet the chapel's cat who also has his own story... which will please the children! In fact, they too have their own tour of the chapel with a quiz and dedicated interactive terminals.

The chapel always offers religious services: on Sundays at 10:30 am and, between April and October, masses at 5:15 pm, as well as short prayers at noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Warning: Be prepared for crowds, as this is a highly touristy and crowded place. However, the organization and the site are up to the number of visitors: multilingual and interactive visitor center, guided tours, café and store, large free parking.