To think that Guildford Cathedral is as ugly as fuck?

[MintyChapstick]

Just that really.

Came across as photo of it recently and was gobsmacked at its ugliness. It's made of brick rather than stone and is all angular and square, in fact it looks more like a power station or a warehouse than a cathedral. You can tell it was built in the 20th Century, and yes I know the War disrupted things but you'd think theyd have made a bit more effort with it wouldn't you?

I think old cathedrals are a think of beauty and splendour but this is just hideous isn't it?

OP, take that back!! Don't insult the jam factory!

In all seriousness though, I love Guildford cathedral. I've sung evensong there a couple of times and attended some concerts there too. It's beautiful inside.

I also work in Guildford and I love the view of the tower all over town. I find it oddly reassuring.

Mind you, I did go to one of those modern Oxbridge colleges, so maybe I'm an oddity!!

It's lit up Orange and night. Street light orange.

*at

The two ugliest cathedrals are Clifton in Bristol ( concrete hexagon) and St Georges Southwark. Originally pugin but badly rebuilt after being bombed.

I live in Guildford and have grown to love the cathedral. The adjoining refectory building, however, is truly horrid.

I love the juxtaposition of the modernist cathedral with the beautiful olde worlde High Street.

It's industrial looking.

Which is not what I'd expect for guildford.

Industrial buildings can and do have a beauty of their own, but only if they fit in with their environment. This cathedral wouldn't look out of place amidst the industrial landscape around Teesside, but I can understand it being rather alarming somewhere a little more, well, residential and twee.

It's right beside the University of Surrey and on top of a hill. It can be seen from a long way off and the A3 snakes around it. I agree if it was your first or only impression of Guildford, you'd be quite disappointed! But somehow it just works!

It's weird though - in much the same way that in all films set in Paris the Eiffel Tower is always in the background, Guildford Cathedral seems to follow you around!

One of the things local people object to in new buildings is if they will block a view of the Cathedral.

Guildford Cathedral - all the better to terrify you with extracts from The Omen ......