Saint Barnabas Cathedral, Nottingham

Introduction

Saint Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham was designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin and built between 1841 and 1844. The church was consecrated on 27 August 1844 by Bishop Wiseman, who brought relics of Saint Barnabas from Rome. Saint Barnabas became the Cathedral Church of the newly-established Diocese of Nottingham in 1850.

History

The foundation stone was laid on 10 November 1843 by Bishop Nicholas Wiseman. At its opening, the church was the largest Catholic Church built in England since the Reformation. In 2019 the Cathedral won National Lottery support (£71,100) for a 'Discovering Pugin' project with Nottingham Trent University. In September 2022, the Cathedral won a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant (circa £800,000) to restore three chapels at the East end to Pugin's original design.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of ashlar with slate roofs in Gothic Revival style, with a cruciform plan and crossing tower and spire. The cathedral has a 150ft spire and is designed in the Early English style, inspired in part by the medieval Cistercian house at Croxton.

The interior includes a crypt with tombs of 5 bishops. The Blessed Sacrament chapel was restored to Pugin's design by Alphege Pippet in 1933. The cathedral has a hanging crucifix by Pugin at the west arch. The east end has a baldacchino with marble pillars and cusped arch.

The cathedral has a C19 square font on round columns. The shrine to Saint Joseph in the north transept was designed by J. Sydney Brocklesby in medieval style, richly gilt. The tomb in the northern ambulatory housing the translated remains of Venerable Mary Potter was designed by Smith & Roper with carving by John Shaw.

Music and liturgy

A choir has sung at the Cathedral since its consecration in 1844, and the first Director of Music, Edmund Hart-Turpin, co-founded the Royal College of Organists. The choir combines local volunteers with Choral Scholars from the city's two universities and four Lay Clerks. The choir's repertoire is grounded in plainsong and polyphony, but includes works from across the world and across the ages. The cathedral's Guild of Saint Cecilia was established in 2026 to provide support for its musical life.

The Children's Choir comprises boys and girls from 8-16 years of age. The Children's Choir sings regularly in the Cathedral and further afield.

Parish life

The Cathedral parish supports SaSh Kitchen, Emmanuel House and Zion Foodbank. The Salaam Shalom Kitchen (SaSh) is held at The Bridge Centre, Hyson Green, providing hot meals, drinks and groceries.

Confirmation is celebrated by the Bishop at the Cathedral on Pentecost Sunday each year. The Cathedral's live-streaming facility enables those who cannot attend in person to share in its liturgies. The Cathedral's Children's Liturgy is open to all children who have not yet received their First Holy Communion.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The Cathedral has a daily rota ensuring at least one priest is available to hear confessions during advertised hours. Diocesan Law requires a minimum of six months notice prior to a wedding, and all couples must attend the Marriage Care preparation course.

Notable people and events

Venerable Mary Potter, founder of the Little Company of Mary, died in Rome in 1913 and her remains were re-interred to Saint Barnabas Cathedral in 1997.

Visiting

Literature at the entrance and information boards throughout the Cathedral enable a simple self-guided tour. Guided tours of the Cathedral can be arranged by contacting the Cathedral Office, with group bookings available. The 2019 National Lottery Grant 'Discovering Pugin' enabled NTU to produce a full laser scan of the Cathedral building to create a 3D fly through model. At Mary Potter's tomb in the North ambulatory there are free books, prayer cards and materials to learn more about her life.