Westminster Cathedral

Westminster Cathedral
Metropolitan Cathedral of the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Cathedral from Victoria Street
Westminster Cathedral is located in Central London
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral
Shown within Central London
51°29′46″N 0°08′23″W / 51.4961°N 0.1397°W / 51.4961; -0.1397
OS grid referenceTQ2924879074
LocationFrancis Street, Westminster
London, SW1
CountryEngland
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitewestminstercathedral.org.uk
History
StatusCathedral
Consecrated1910
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s)John Francis Bentley
StyleNeo-Byzantine
Years built1895–1903
Specifications
Length110m (360ft)
Width47m (156ft)
Number of towers1
Tower height87m (284ft), including the cross
Administration
ProvinceWestminster
DioceseWestminster (since 1884)
Clergy
ArchbishopVincent Nichols
DeanSlawomir Witon
Laity
Organist(s)Simon Johnson, Peter Stevens
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated1 December 1987
Amended 15 February 1994
Reference no.1066500[1]
Interior
Baptistery
South-western elevation
Neo-Byzantine mosaics
Reliquary of Saint John Southworth
North-western elevation
Blessed Sacrament Chapel
Ceiling of the Lady Chapel
North-western portal

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood, known as Westminster Cathedral, is the largest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales and the seat of the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster.

The site on which the cathedral stands in the City of Westminster was purchased by the Diocese of Westminster in 1885, and construction was completed in 1903.[2]

Designed by John Francis Bentley in neo-Byzantine style, and accordingly made almost entirely of brick, without steel reinforcements,[3][4] Sir John Betjeman called it "a masterpiece in striped brick and stone" that shows "the good craftsman has no need of steel or concrete."[5]

  1. ^ Historic England. "Wesminster Cathedral (1066500)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  2. ^ "Westminster Cathedral – London, England". www.sacred-destinations.com. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  3. ^ Mark Daly (16 October 2018). London Uncovered (New Edition): More than Sixty Unusual Places to Explore. White Lion Publishing. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-7112-3998-2.
  4. ^ Lance Day; Ian McNeil (11 September 2002). Biographical Dictionary of the History of Technology. Routledge. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-134-65019-4.
  5. ^ Betjeman, John (25 July 1974). A Pictorial History of English Architecture. Penguin Books Ltd. p. 95. ISBN 978-0140038248.

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