What is Westminster Cathedral?
Q: What is Westminster Cathedral?
A: Westminster Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in London, England. It is the mother church of the Roman Catholic community in England and Wales and the Metropolitan Church and Cathedral for the Archbishop of Westminster.
Q: When was it opened?
A: Westminster Cathedral was opened in 1903.
Q: What style of architecture does it have?
A: The cathedral was designed by John Francis Bentley and is in the style of Byzantine church architecture.
Q: What features does it have?
A: The nave of Westminster Cathedral is the widest of any church in England, while its sanctuary is higher than its nave so that the altar can be seen from any part of the nave. There are also beautiful marble pillars which are all carved differently, as well as a very large crucifix hanging from the chancel arch and an Archiepiscopal Throne or cathedra made out of marble and mosaic modelled on one found at St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome. In addition, there are monuments to famous people located in its crypt.
Q: What type of music does its choir sing?
A: The choir at Westminster Cathedral sings Gregorian chant and polyphony from the Renaissance period, as well as pieces written by composers such as Benjamin Britten and Ralph Vaughan Williams specifically for them. All boys who make up this choir board at nearby Westminster Cathedral Choir School.
Q: How big is its organ?
A: The organ at Westminster Cathedral is very large; it's situated above its entrance in what's known as a west gallery, having been built by Henry Willis III between 1922-1932 with Louis Vierne's "Carillon de Westminster" being composed for it dedicated to him afterwards.
Q: Who has visited this cathedral before?
A: Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here on 28 May 1982 during his six-day visit to United Kingdom; Cardinal Basil Hume then invited HM The Queen here on 1995 - marking her first visit to a Catholic liturgy since 1688 when James II & VII was king
