Brentwood Cathedral (Catholic) (Brentwood)
The Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Helen is the Catholic cathedral in the Essex town of Brentwood.
It is situated in Ingrave Road, round the corner from the busy High Street.
The cathedral was first built here in 1861, of ragstone.
However, in the mid-20th century Bishop Thomas McMahon decided a new and more striking cathedral was needed.
He chose Quinlan Terry to be the architect.
Terry incorporated the older building, and added his own features, including a huge semi-circular portico.
The new cathedral was opened in 1991, the money having been given anonymously, or according to the Bishop "by the intervention of Divine Providence".
At the consecration, the much loved Cardinal Basil Hume commented "I have looked and thank God for what has been created here."