21st June, Dedication of the Cathedral

Dedication of the Cathedral of St Chad, Diocese of Birmingham

St Chad’s was built between 1839 and 1841 to serve the rapidly expanding Catholic population in Birmingham through the inspiration of Bishop Thomas Walsh, the Vicar Apostolic of the Central District. The present Cathedral was designed in north German 13th century style by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-1852), the world famous pioneer of Gothic revival architecture, and was consecrated on 21 June 1841 by Bishop Walsh. St Chad’s was the first Catholic cathedral erected in England since the Reformation. In 1941 St Chad’s was made a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII on the occasion of its centenary.

Terríbilis est locus iste: hic domus Dei est et porta coeli: et vocabitur aula Dei. * Quam dilecta tabernacula tua, Domine virtutum! concupiscit, et deficit anima mea in atria Domini.
Terrible is this place: it is the house of God, and the gate of heaven; and it shall be called the court of God. * How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord.
(Genesis 28:17 and Psalm 83:2-3 from the Introit of Mass)

Deus, qui nobis per síngulos annos hujus sancti templi tui consecrationis reparas diem, et sacris semper mysteriis repraesentas incolumes: exaudi preces populi tui, et praesta; ut, quisquis hoc templum benefícia
petiturus ingreditur, cuncta se impetrasse laetetur.
O God, who renewest unto us every year the day of the consecration of this thy holy temple, and bringest us always in safety to the celebration of these sacred mysteries: graciously hear the prayers of Thy people, and grant that whosoever shall enter this temple to ask blessings of Thee, may rejoice in obtaining all his requests.

http://www.stchadscathedral.org.uk/