Brentwood Cathedral

The Cathedral of St Mary and St Helen stands in Brentwood, a town in Essex. It serves as the seat of the Diocese of Brentwood and began in 1861 as a parish church in Gothic style. The building became a cathedral in 1917 and was later enlarged between 1989 and 1991 by Quinlan Terry. Terry’s design blends early Italian Renaissance and English Baroque influences inspired by Christopher Wren. The cathedral was dedicated by Cardinal Hume on 31 May 1991 after anonymous donors funded the project. The architecture reflects careful planning for liturgical use after the Second Vatican Council. The nave centres on the high altar, framed by nine bays on the north elevation with Doric pilasters. A large semicircular portico draws on St Paul’s design, while the clerestory rises to an octagonal lantern. The east elevation deliberately contrasts the 1861 Gothic Revival church with the new classical structure, using ragstone and Welsh slate tiles to link them. Inside, the restrained interior gives way to rich ceiling patterns in gold leaf. The cathedral is lit by brass chandeliers, including one formerly in Epping church, and concealed lighting above the cornice. The processional cross copies a medieval design, and the Bishop’s chair comes from Pisa in Nabrassina stone. Terracotta roundels by sculptor Raphael Maklouf depict the Stations of the Cross, complementing the subdued yet uplifting atmosphere created by white walls and clear windows.