The Cathedral Church of St Helen is the Mother Church of the Diocese of Brentwood, a status it has enjoyed since the diocese was created in 1917. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The Cathedral today is a bold marriage of Classical and Gothic Revival architecture. The main part of the building was designed by the renowned classical architect Quinlan Terry and consecrated by Cardinal Basil Hume in 1991. It incorporates a substantial part of the 1861 Gothic Revival church designed by Gilbert Blout in 1861.
Brentwood Cathedral sits proudly at the heart of the Diocese of Brentwood, a large and diverse diocese that stretches from rural north Essex to the heart of the East End of London.
Its recognition as a Grade II* listed building by Historic England has elevated it to national significance, a worthy accolade for such a fine building.
Brentwood Cathedral is much more than a building, however.
It serves as the Mother Church of our Diocese and the central place of worship for Catholics in Essex and East London. All the great Diocesan celebrations take place in the Cathedral, where people gather to give praise and glory to God. It is our spiritual home and a sanctuary of prayer and sacramental life for many.
The Cathedral also serves as the home of a vibrant parish community and a focal point for people of all denominations and faiths in Brentwood, offering daily worship for them and all the people of the Diocese of Brentwood.
The Diocese of Brentwood was formally erected on 20 July 1917 and Bishop Bernard Ward was named its first Bishop.
There have been six further Bishops of Brentwood, with longest serving being Thomas McMahon, who was the inspiration and driving force behind the development of the current Cathedral building as well as the many enhancements across the wider Cathedral campus. The current Bishop is Alan Williams who was appointed on 14 April 2014 and ordained bishop in the Cathedral by Cardinal Nichols, 1 July 2014.
Above the nave arcade are terracotta roundels representing the Stations of the Cross. The roundels were designed by Raphael Maklouf, best known for designing the image of Queen Elizabeth II that was used on all Commonwealth coins from 1985 to 1997.
The simple images are deceptively detailed and draw the eye in, enhancing their principal purpose of helping visitors reflect on Our Lord’s Passion. The most striking feature of the Stations is the focus on the faces of Christ and the other participants in the Passion story.
Most Stations of the Cross consist of 14 images telling the story of the Passion, a formula that was standardised in the late 18th century. The Stations in Brentwood Cathedral include a 15th Station – the Resurrection – part of a more modern tradition formalised by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
Brentwood Cathedral began in 1861 as a parish church built in a Gothic style. This relatively small building was raised to cathedral status in 1917. Between 1989 and 1991 the church was enlarged in an Italianate classical style.
The new Brentwood Cathedral was dedicated by Cardinal Basil Hume on 31 May 1991 and in 2022 the cathedral was listed at Grade II.
Photos used are copyright and property of Brentwood Cathedral, Graham Hillman and Jim Lynch
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