Gospel in Art: Feast of the Dedication of Westminster Cathedral

Interior of Westminster Cathedral while under construction, 1902, Print based on drawing by Holland Tringham (1861-1908), Issued in 1903 © Walker Art Library / Alamy Stock Photo

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 1 July 2025
John 2:13-22

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the Temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the Temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, 'Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.' His disciples remembered that it was written, 'Zeal for your house will consume me.'

So the Jews said to him, 'What sign do you show us for doing these things?' Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews then said, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and will you raise it up in three days?' But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Reflection on the Print

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of Westminster Cathedral, the mother church of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales. Situated in the heart of London, it is the largest Catholic church in the UK and ranks as the 50th largest church in the world by interior area. The site was acquired by the Diocese of Westminster in 1885, previously occupied by a disused prison. Construction began under Cardinal Herbert Vaughan, who laid the foundation stone in 1895. The cathedral was designed by the brilliant architect John Francis Bentley in a striking Neo-Byzantine style, inspired by early Christian architecture in Constantinople and Ravenna. Built almost entirely of red brick with Portland stone dressings, and remarkably without steel reinforcements, it opened to the public in 1903-sadly, just after Bentley's death. One of the first major liturgies held there was Cardinal Vaughan's own requiem Mass.

Our print is based on a drawing by Holland Tringham (1861-1908) which he did in situ in 1902, whilst the Cathedral was still under construction. Members of the public are seen already admiring the Cathedral, but with its interior still largely unfinished.

Unlike the Gothic splendour of Westminster Abbey nearby, Westminster Cathedral stands apart with its vast, domed interior and richly decorated chapels. While the exterior is instantly recognisable for its campanile (nicknamed "St Edward's Tower", in honour of St Edward the Confessor whose burial place at Westminster Abbey can be seen from the tower) rising over 87 metres, it is the inside that leaves a lasting impression. The interior was intentionally left incomplete in marble and mosaic, providing later generations the opportunity to continue adorning the space, a vision that continues today. The cathedral is also renowned for its liturgical music, especially the world-famous Westminster Cathedral Choir, whose sacred polyphony and chant remain a hallmark of Catholic worship in the UK.

We recently produced a video on the Great Rood (the great large hanging cross above the sanctuary) inside Westminster Cathedral, one of its most striking treasures and architectural hallmarks. If you haven't had a chance to watch it yet, do click here and enjoy discovering more about this magnificent sculpture.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-2-13-22-2025/ (with audio)