---
title: "Brentwood Cathedral"
description: "Located in Brentwood, Essex. Built Gothic church 1860–61; classical addition 1989–91. Diocese of Brentwood. Grade II*. Gothic Revival and Classical (Italian Renaissance with English Baroque) style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Catholic Church","Essex","Brentwood","Grade II*","Cathedral","Quinlan Terry","Gilbert Blount","Classical"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/brentwood-cathedral-brentwood"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T01:22:49.842Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-08T16:00:45.736Z"
location: "Brentwood, Essex"
country: "England"
county: "Essex"
town: "Brentwood"
address: "Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 8AT"
postcode: "CM15 8AT"
built: "Gothic church 1860–61; classical addition 1989–91"
consecrated: "31 May 1991"
architect: "Gilbert R Blount (1860–61); Quinlan Terry (1989–91)"
denomination: "Catholic Church"
dedications: ["Mary","Helen"]
diocese: "Brentwood"
grade: "II*"
style: "Gothic Revival and Classical (Italian Renaissance with English Baroque)"
website: "http://www.cathedral-brentwood.org/"
openingHours: "Mass times, events, special occasions."
parish: "Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Helen"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1479422"
accessNotes: "Non-accessible toilets in church. Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby. Accessible toilets in church"
---

# Brentwood Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Helen is a Grade II* Roman Catholic cathedral on Ingrave Road, Brentwood, Essex, mother church of the Diocese of Brentwood: a Victorian Gothic church by Gilbert Blount enlarged in 1989–91 by Quinlan Terry in a classical idiom.

## Overview

Historic England listed the cathedral at Grade II* on 27 May 2022. The building consists of the surviving portion of a Gothic church of 1860–61 by Gilbert R. Blount and a dominant classical addition of 1989–91 by Quinlan Terry, the first classical cathedral built in England since St Paul’s. Terry took inspiration from the early Italian Renaissance fused with the English Baroque of Christopher Wren, designing a central altar for congregational participation after the Second Vatican Council. Cardinal Basil Hume dedicated the new cathedral on 31 May 1991. The Diocese of Brentwood was created in 1917, when the earlier church became the cathedral. A first Catholic church on the site opened in 1837 and was later used as a hall. Consecration crosses are incised into the Doric pilasters of the clerestory. The listing includes the enclosing walls, railings and gates.

Mass times and events are published by the cathedral parish.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1479422](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1479422)
- [Brentwood Cathedral](http://www.cathedral-brentwood.org/)
- [Cathedral history and guide](https://brentwoodcathedral.org.uk/brentwood-cathedral-parish/cathedral-history-and-guide/)