Westminster Cathedral

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Description

Westminster Cathedral, seat of the archbishop of Westminster, is the most important Roman Catholic cathedral in Britain, rivalled in size only by the Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool. Built in 1895-1903, it is a red-brick building in Byzantine style on a basilican plan, crowned by four domes. The cathedral is usually entered by the northwest doorway, to the left of which is the elevator up the 94m/284ft high campanile, St Edward's Tower.

Hobbies & Activities category: Architecture - Victorian; Christian sites

Attractions within Westminster Cathedral

Baptistery

At the southwest corner of Westminster cathedral is the Baptistery, with an altar commemorating members of the Canadian Air Force who fell in the Second World War. The font is a copy of that in San Vitale, Ravenna.

Crypt

Steps lead down to the crypt (St Peter's Chapel), which contains a collection of treasured relics (including a mitre which belonged to St Thomas Becket) and fragments of the True Cross. Adjoining

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High Altar / Lady Chapel

The high altar, in the sanctuary of Westminster Cathedral, has a marble canopy borne on columns. To the right of the sanctuary is the Lady Chapel, the first of the chapels to be completed, which is also decorated with very fine mosaics.

Narthex

Near the entrance of Westminster Cathedral are two columns of red Norwegian granite, the color symbolizing the Precious Blood of Christ, to which the cathedral is dedicated. By the left-hand column

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Nave

The nave of Westminster Cathedral is the widest in England (52m/150ft, including the aisles). The decorative scheme is not yet complete, but even in its present state it is immensely impressive

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North Aisle Chapels

Going along the north aisle of Westminster Cathedral, we come first to the Chapel of the Holy Souls, with beautiful mosaics of Old and New Testament scenes.

Next to this is St George's Chapel,

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North Transept

In the north transept of Westminster Cathedral are a beautiful mosaic of Joan of Arc and the Chapel of St Thomas of Canterbury or Vaughan Chantry, with a fine statue of Cardinal Vaughan, who

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South Aisle Chapels

In the south aisle of Westminster Cathedral is the Chapel of St Paul, with a fine mosaic pavement based on a design by the Cosmati.

The Chapel of St Andrew and the Saints of Scotland has bas

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