Westminster Cathedral

The plan encompasses a simple rectangular shape with a projecting East end. The building is 360' long, 156' wide and to the top of the domes, 117' high; the vaults span 60'; is nave is the highest and widest in the country whilst its campanile reaching 273' high is the highest in London. It consists of a narthex, a three-domed nave with 3 bays (the third of which forms a crossing). the aisles have high galleries above. The 3-domed roof covers the nave and a fourth (which is the only dome to have windows) covers the sanctuary. The nave has internal buttresses, thus inverting the gothic idea of external buttresses, buttressed instead by the thick walls between he chapels which helps to hide their bulk and still allowing for a sense of spaciousness. The nave is divided into three square bays, each with a dome above it. Each bay is then further sub-divided by square piers smaller arches on columns thus supporting the gallery above. Above the aisle itself is a tunnel vault, which runs from east to West and is cut into by the arches carrying the gallery. transept is divided from the North to South by long-apsed chapels; the sanctuary has a main apse.

The internal decoration has not yet been entirely completed, esp. that of the marble facing in the chapels. The marble is both coloured and plain, to enhance the mosaics. The pulpit was mace in Rome in1899 by CA Leonon and was styled after Medieval Italian pulpits; it is raised on columns built by LH Shattock in 1934; this enlargement by Cardinal Bourne was to commemorate his 50 years as a priest; it is now only used for the main festivals of the year. The alter was designed by Bentley in 1901 and built posthumously by Farmer and Brindley, this firm was primarily responsible for the interior decoration and detailing. The Cathedral’s chapels are designed to lead worshippers on a liturgical journey from birth to death starting with the baptismal font with its octagonal marble basin 5 feet in diameter, which was designed by Bentley. The Holy Soul's chapel is the last chapel in this symbolic journey through life and is also the most completely decorated with its black and white marble and mosaics by C Symmons. This chapel was restored in 1992-3 and is perhaps the most typical of Bentley's work for he designed every detail.

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