St
Chad's Catholic Primary SchoolPhone:0121 230 6211
Email:dean.stchadscathedral@rcaob.org.uk
St Chad's Cathedral 
St Chad’s Queensway
Birmingham
B4 6EU
St Chad’s Cathedral is open for prayer and welcomes visitors Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3.30pm with Confessions at 11.30am and Mass at 12.15.
Open Saturday from 11am until after the 4.30pm Mass.
Mass Times
Saturday Vigil 4.30pm
Sunday 9.30am & 11.30am
The Car Park can be found at Shadwell Street, B4 6EY.
The Cathedral and the Archdiocese
A cathedral is the church of a bishop. The bishop is the shepherd who cares for and encourages the religious activities of the people in his area, known as a diocese.
St Chad's is the Centre of Catholic activity in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, The Archdiocese of Birmingham covers the counties of the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
In the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The Province of Birmingham includes the Dioceses of Shrewsbury, and Clifton as well as the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
Our Archbishop is Bernard Longley.
The Auxiliary Bishop with responsibility for Birmingham and Worcestershire is Bishop David Evans.
The Cathedral Parish is part of the Cathedral Deanery. The Dean of this area is Fr Gary Buckby.
A Brief History of St Chad's Cathedral
The Reformation
To really understand the Cathedral and its importance, we have to take a look at an event hundreds of years ago that marked a turning point in Christianity globally.
The Reformation took place in 1517. It was when the main part of the Christian Church split into two further parts- Protestants and Catholic.
It was triggered by Martin Luther nailing his '95 theses' to Wittenburg
Castle Church, in Germany. The '95 theses' were 95 problems that Luther found with the Catholic Church, and this led to a new Christian denomination forming, which supposedly solved these issues.
The Reformation put a halt to Catholic growth in England. When Henry VIII created the Church of England in 1534, Catholic persecution became a massive issue, and the two groups divided the country, with persecution happening on both sides.
This is why the Cathedral opening in 1841 was so important, as it was the first Catholic Cathedral built since the Reformation.
171 years later (1688) ...
A Chapel was built by Father Leo Randolph, a Franciscan Monk. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by an anti-Catholic mob. Even the foundations were dug up!
A further 98 years later, in 1786, a new chapel was opened by Father Nutt on Broad Street. It quickly became overcrowded, and in 1806 Bishop Milner asked Father Peach to look after a second Chapel, in Water Street.
St Chad's Church was built on Shadwell Church by 1808. Bishop Walsh then had a Cathedral built on Bath Street. This was consecrated on the 22nd June 1841. It was the first Catholic Cathedral to be built in England since the reformation- meaning that it has real significance.
On the 22nd November 1940, during World War Two, an incendiary device fell through the roof, bounced on the floor and exploded against a radiator, which burst. The water from the radiator extinguished the flames from the bomb and the Cathedral survived the war intact. To the right of the Sanctuary today, can be seen the words, 'Deo Gratias', which means thank God.
The Chapel on Broad Street, which was opened in 1786 by Father Nutt
St Chad's Today
Today, St Chad's is a stunning building, which attracts people from miles around. Thousands of people annually visit the Cathedral to worship or attend mass, have a tour, or just to learn more about the building and those in it. The current building was finished and consecrated in 1841.
In 1941 it was named by the Pope as a minor basilica to acknowledge its 100 years of service.
Weekly visitors on average: Approximately 370 people
Annual young people and school group numbers: Over 3000 people
There are also hundreds of groups that come from across the diocese, such as parish groups, historical society, Pugin society and art groups.Your content here
