Westminster Cathedral

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.

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 is the small Chapel of St Edmund, with the tombs of bishops and cardinals. Continuing round the nave, we come to the very fine white marble pulpit.

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.

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 is a bronze figure of St Peter, a copy of the famous statue in St Peter's Rome.

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 (variegated marbles on the lower parts of the walls, mosaics on the upper parts and the domes). On the main piers are Stations of the Cross carved by Eric Gill. The galleries over the aisles are borne on marble columns from the quarries which also supplied marble for St Sophia in Istanbul. The capitals, all different, are of white Carrara marble. The great cross which hangs from the arch at the east end of the nave is 10m/30ft long, with painted figures of Christ and (on the back) the Mater Dolorosa.

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, with a figure of the saint. It contains the tomb of John Southwark, the "parish priest of Westminster", who was hanged at Tyburn in 1654.

The third chapel is the Chapel of St Joseph, with the tomb of Cardinal Hinsley (d. 1943) and beautiful marble mosaics.

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 presided over the building of the cathedral. The little Chapel of the Sacred Heart and St Michael is decorated with Greek and Carrara marble.

Next comes the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, with ornate mosaic decoration (by Boris Anrep).

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-relief figures of Saints Andrew, Ninian, Columba, Margaret and Bride.

Next comes the Chapel of St Patrick and the Saints of Ireland, decorated with Irish marble. In the niches are the badges of Irish regiments which fought in World War I, and beside the altar is a casket containing the roll of honor of the 50,000 Irishmen who fell in the war. The marble pavement is in the form of a Celtic cross.

The adjoining Chapel of Saints Gregory and Augustine is notable for the altar mosaics depicting the conversion of England.

From the top of St Edward's Tower there are extensive views over London.