 Westminster Cathedral
History
— Outstanding Attractions —
Quick Facts
Westminster Cathedral
should not be confused with Westminster Abbey. The first is
Roman Catholic, the latter Anglican.
History
After the Reformation
in the 16th century Roman Catholicism was first outlawed and
then tolerated on sufferance so it was not until the mid 19th
century that Diocesan bishops were permitted. The first Roman
Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Wiseman, died in
1850 and, in honour of his memory, money was raised to build
a cathedral.
The site was
bought just over 30 years later. Previously it had been used,
amongst other things, for a market and an annual fair. In the
first part of the 19th century it had been the site of a prison
for women and the prison's foundations were used for the new
cathedral.
The first architectural
designs were for a cathedral in the Gothic style but this would
have been extremely expensive. As only £45,000 had been
collected, a much simpler Early Christian Byzantine style was
chosen.
The foundation
stone was laid in 1895 and it was completed in 1903. The building
was constructed using brick with bands of Portland Stone for
decoration. Because of the shortage of funds, the interior was
left to be completed later, work that is still being done today.
 Buy
this book, Churches and Cathedrals of London by Stephen
C. Humphrey, from Amazon.com
or Amazon.co.uk.
Outstanding
Attractions
- The Stations
of the Cross by Eric Gill are amonst
the Cathedral's best known treasures. Carved in low relief,
they represent Christ's journey to Calvary.
- The
Lady Chapel, completed and consecrated in 1903,
is the most richly decorated part of the Cathedral.
- The Shrine
of Our Lady of Westminster has a 15th century
alabaster statue of the Madonna and Child.
- The Chapel
of St Joseph has a beautiful floor made of Hopton
Wood stone from Derbyshire and walls of Italian and Greek
marble.
- The Campanile
Bell Tower is 273 feet high and has a four-sided
viewing gallery from which it is possible get a panoramic
view across London. There is a lift to the top, open 9am to
5pm daily April to November and 9am to 5pm, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday, Sunday during December to March.
Quick
Facts
Location: Victoria Street,
London SW1
Transport Links: Victoria
Underground station on the Circle and District Lines
Victoria mainline station
The number 11 and 24 buses stop right outside the Cathedral.
History
— Outstanding Attractions —
Quick Facts
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Copyright © 2002 Carol
Fisher. All Rights Reserved
Picture copyright © 2002 Carol Fisher. All Rights
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