Nottingham Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of St. Barnabas, commonly known as Nottingham Cathedral, stands as the principal church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham. Situated in Nottingham, England, it serves as the seat of the Bishop of Nottingham.

History and Construction

Construction of the cathedral took place between 1841 and 1844, with a cost of £15,000. Its consecration occurred in 1844, a significant period following the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829, which eased restrictions on Catholicism in the United Kingdom. A substantial portion of the funding was provided by Lord Shrewsbury. The renowned architect Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin was commissioned for the design, a figure also celebrated for his work on the interior of the Houses of Parliament. The cathedral was initially designed in the Early English Plain Gothic style, though Pugin's later churches would embrace the Decorated Gothic style more fully. Rev Robert William Willson, the priest in charge of Nottingham at the time and later Bishop-Elect of Hobart, Tasmania, retained Pugin as the architect. Upon its completion, Nottingham Cathedral was the largest Catholic church erected in England since the Reformation.

Elevation to Cathedral Status and Architectural Alterations

Following the re-establishment of a Catholic hierarchy in England and Wales in 1850 by decree of Pope Pius IX, the church was elevated to cathedral status in 1852, becoming one of the first four Catholic cathedrals in England and Wales since the English Reformation. The cathedral is designated as a Grade II* listed building. A significant portion of Pugin's original decorative scheme was lost or obscured due to alterations made in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council. The original high altar was removed, and much of the painted decoration was covered or painted over. Fittings such as the old cathedra and figures from the rood screen were also removed, though the figures were reinstated in 1993. The interior's current appearance is markedly different from Pugin's intended richness. A fragment of his original decorative scheme survives in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, considered a highlight of the interior. The replacement high altar from the 1960s was again replaced in 1993 with one in a more harmonizing style. While some fragments of Pugin's decoration, like roundels in the nave, have been uncovered and restored, much of his original work remains lost.

Notable Features and Modern Developments

A notable feature within the cathedral is the tomb of Venerable Mary Potter, the foundress of the Little Company of Mary in Nottingham, with the tomb designed by Smith & Roper. In September 2022, a project commenced to restore some of A. W. N. Pugin's original planned designs, including uncovering whitewash covering the original decoration of the Lady Chapel. This restoration initiative is a collaboration between Nottingham Cathedral, Nottingham Trent University, and Culture Syndicates, supported by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The clergy of the cathedral also minister to the church of St. Augustine on Woodborough Road.