St John‘s Roman Catholic Cathedral

When

Key dates in the history of St John's Roman Catholic Cathedral:

• 1877 Duke Henry, overcome with happiness on account of his marriage, decided to build the Catholic Church, as a ‘thank-offering to God'
• 1882 Building work began on the church, although the first stone was not laid until 1884
• 1910 The church was completed. The Catholics of Norwich were lucky enough to have the largest parish church in England at this time
• 1912 The church was the venue for the 3^rd National Catholic Congress. It was a great honour for the Catholic community
• 1939-45 The church was used as a turning beacon for planes returning to Norfolk after bombing assignments in Europe
• 1976 The church was consecrated as a cathedral for the new Diocese of East Anglia (Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough). It provided the seat for the newly reinstated Bishop of East Anglia, for previously the church had been part of the diocese of Northampton