Bentley, John Francis (1839-1902)

English architect, born at Doncaster. In 1894 he was appointed architect for the new Roman Catholic Cathedral at Westminster, London (1895-1903). The Byzantine style was chosen for the cathedral, and Bentley made an extensive tour of southeastern Europe in order to study Byzantine architecture. His design shows an original treatment of the style; but he did not live to see the completion of the building.

The intended interior decoration with mosaics and marble is still unfinished. It is outwardly Byzantine but inwardly shaped by shadowy vaults of bare brickwork. The campanile is the tallest church tower in London (see Westminster Cathedral).

Bentley became a pupil of Henry Clutton in 1858. In 1861 he joined the Roman Catholic Church, and in 1862 started practice as an architect. Up to 1894 his work consisted of houses, schools, and churches in the Gothic style, notably the church of the Holy Rood at Watford, Hertfordshire (1887).