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Significant Dates

       
 
1651
After the defeat of Charles I, Scottish prisoners were interred here by Oliver Cromwell.
  
   
 
 
1834
A prison was opened on the site.
Please click here to read more.
  
       
 
1850
The Diocese of Westminster created, at the Restoration of the Catholic Hierarchy by Pope Pius IX, with Nicholas Wiseman as first Archbishop.
  
       
 
1867
Initial purchase of site adjacent to present Cathedral.

  
       
 
1884
Cardinal Manning bought the site on which the Cathedral now stands.

  
       
 
1894
Herbert Vaughan, the third Archbishop of Westminster, chose John Francis Bentley as the architect for the Cathedral.
  
       
 
1895
The foundation stone was laid on 29 June.

 
       
 
1896
The foundations were completed and by 1903 the fabric of the building was in position.

 
       
 

1903
First regular celebration of daily Mass and Divine Office in the Cathedral.

Edward Elgar conducted first London performance of John Henry Newman’s 'The Dream of Gerontius'.

  
       
 
1906
Unveiling and blessing of baldacchino.

  
       
 

1908
Decoration of Holy Souls Chapel completed.

Eucharistic Congress - 7 cardinals, 130 bishops and 4,000 priests.

  
       
 
1910
Consecration of the Cathedral.

 
       
  1918
Eric Gill's Stations of the Cross unveiled.
  
       
 
1930
Body of St John Southworth enshrined in Chapel of St George.

  
       
 
1935
Lady Chapel mosaics completed.

  
       
 
1955
Statue of Our Lady of Westminster placed in Cathedral.

  
       
 
1958
Sculpture of St Thérèse of Lisieux, by Giacomo Manzù put in place.

  
       
 
1962
Mosaics in Blessed Sacrament Chapel, by Boris Anrep completed.

  
       
 
1975
Construction of Piazza, opening view of Cathedral onto Victoria St.

  
       
 
1982
Visit of Pope John Paul II.

  
       
 
1995
Visit of HM the Queen during centenary celebrations. First visit of a sovereign to a Roman Catholic liturgy.

  
       
 

1999
Millennium Cross unveiled.

Opening of the Jubilee Holy Door.

  
       
 

2005
Body of Cardinal Vaughan re-interred in Chapel of St Thomas.

Redevelopment of Victoria opens up new views of the Cathedral.

 
       
  2008
Westminster Cathedral featured on the 72p stamp of a new Royal Mail set called "British Cathedrals".
  
 
 

The front page of The Illustrated News of
July 1910 records the consecration of the Cathedral.


The mosaic decoration of the Lady Chapel
unveiled in 1935.


The opening of the Piazza in 1975 gave the Cathedral
direct access to Victoria St for the first time.


Pope John Paul II during his visit to the Cathedral in 1982.


The visit of HM the Queen to Westminster Cathedral
during the 1995 celebrations marking the centenary
of the Cathedral's foundation.

 

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