Taken inside Guildford Cathedral in December 2011, this panorama shows the High Altar and the cathedral Choir. This virtual tour also shows the view all the way down the nave of the church.

Guildford Cathedral - High Altar - Guildford visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Guildford Cathedral - High Altar' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Surrey.

Guildford Cathedral is a particularly interesting monument to mid-twentieth century art. It stands on the threshold of architectural and liturgical change, and is sometimes described as 'the last gasp of the English Gothic'.

Consecrated in 1961, Guildford Cathedral was designed as a vast tunnel leading to a distant High Altar. The High Altar was a place 'set apart' from the congregation. But soon after the consecration of the Cathedral, the Church of England moved towards recovering a more participatory form of congregational worship such that new cathedrals were designed with altars much nearer the congregation. The place of the table became the subject of much debate and argument.

After a few years at Guildford Cathedral it was felt the High Altar was too remote and an altar was provided at the top of the Quire steps, behind which the celebrant could stand facing the people. This altar was originally made of polystyrene to look like stone but was eventually replaced on 17 May 2011 by a new altar designed by Charles Gurrey.

So Guildford Cathedral, like a number of churches and Cathedrals throughout England, has two altars - telling a story of change - and acting as a window into history.

This panoramic image shows really well the 'tunnel' design of the Cathedral and the separateness of the High Altar from the seating for the congregation.

Guildford Cathedral
Stag Hill
GUILDFORD
Surrey
GU2 7UP
Telephone: 01483 547860
Email: reception@guildford-cathedral.org
Web: guildford-cathedral.org

Bus: Dennisville, The Chase (4, 10, 520, 697, X50)
Train: Guildford Rail Station‎ with mainline links to London.
Road: Guildford is about 35 miles form the centre of London on the A3. Follow signs off the A3 to the cathedral.