The Diocese of Brentwood was formed as an off-shoot from the Archdiocese of Westminster in the middle of the devastation of the First World War. The new diocese, based at Brentwood, covered the whole of Essex and large parts of east London, thus extending from our national capital to the shores of the North Sea.
Bishop Alan Williams, seen centre, was joined by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, and many other fellow Bishops including his predecessor as Bishop of Brentwood, Bishop Thomas McMahon. The Pope’s representative, Mgr Matteo De Mori, is seen at the left of the group.
