 Westminster Cathedral, London
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Westminster Cathedral or in full, the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Precious Blood, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic community of England and Wales. It is one of the few Byzantine-style buildings in London. Located in Victoria, within the City of Westminster, the Westminster Cathedral is also the biggest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales. It serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster, currently Archbishop Vincent Nichols.
The construction of the Westminster Cathedral goes back to the late 19th. In memory of the first Archbishop of Westminster, the Cardinal Wiseman (1802-1865), the Roman Catholic community raised funds to the building of a new cathedral. Wiseman's successor Cardinal Manning bought the land in 1884. The site was previously occupied by Tothill Fields Bridewell prison. After two false starts, constructed finally began in 1895.
The Westminster Cathedral was opened in 1903, even when the interior was still much incomplete due to shortage of funds. The consecration ceremony only took place in 1910, after it fulfilled the laws of the Roman Church to be free from debt and to have its fabric completed. Despite popular belief that it was the first Catholic place of worship built in Britain after the English Reformation, the first was actually St Patrick's Church at Soho Square.
In 1977, Queen Elizabeth II visited the Westminster Cathedral, as part of her Silver Jubilee Celebrations. Although the visit was to a flower show being held there, her visit marked the first time that a reigning British monarch had entered a Catholic church in the United Kingdom since the Reformation.
Nave of the Westminster Cathedral
Author: Adrian Pingstone (public domain)
How to reach Westminster Cathedral
Take the Circle Line, District Line or Victoria Line to the Victoria Station and walk a short distance from there.
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