Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral is known as the Cathedral of the Precious Blood, and at the end of the Victorian period it replaced A. V. Pugin's St George's Cathedral, which became the foremost Roman Catholic church not only in the capital, but also in the country. In preparation for the design of what was by far the most important of his commissions, John Francis Bentley spent several months in Italy. The result was the construction of a neo-Byzantine cathedral rather than a Gothic Revival style.
Background of Westminster Cathedral
After the religious upheaval of the Reformation, Catholic worship was either completely prohibited or severely limited. It was not until the late 19th century that Catholics were allowed to worship freely in Britain and the Catholic Church was officially restored in Britain. The created Catholic hierarchy wanted to have a mother church for the religion. In 1884, land was acquired in Westminster on the site of Tothill Fields Bridewell prison.
Byzantine charm
Construction of Westminster Cathedral began in 1895, and it opened its doors in 1903. Architect John Francis Bentley did not live to see the opening ceremony; he died in 1902. However, what he created lives on as one of the most striking and impressive examples of neo-Byzantine architecture in Europe. Westminster Cathedral impresses with its colorful brickwork, tall and attractive bell tower, decorated with an interior in accordance with the Byzantine traditions of mosaics and marble.
Memory of the Martyrs
One of the historical monuments is the Church of St. John Southworth in the Chapel of St. George and the English Martyrs. Southworth was executed for his Catholic faith at Tyburn in 1654. His body was brought to the cathedral in 1930. In the same chapel is the last carving made by Eric Gill, depicting Jesus Christ on the cross surrounded by saints Thomas More and John Fisher.
Tomb of the Bishops
The Chapel of Saints Gregory and Augustine contains the tomb of Bishop Richard Challoner (1691-1781), who is famous for founding schools and charities for the poor. His translation of the Old and New Testaments remained the standard English translation for English Catholics for 200 years. Challoner escaped assassination in the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots of 1780. In the same chapel is the tomb of Cardinal George Basil Hume (1923-1999), who served as the ninth Bishop of Westminster Cathedral from 1976.
The Cathedral of the Precious Blood or Westminster Cathedral is recognized as the 50th largest church in the world in terms of internal area (5,017 m2), accommodating up to 3,000 people. In Shekhar Kapur's film Elizabeth: The Golden Age, the scenes set in El Escorial were filmed in Westminster Cathedral, adding to its appeal.
