The cathedral is a grade I listed building and a fine example of the Gothic Revival style of architecture championed by Pugin.

St. Mary's Church in Newcastle opened in August 1844, paid for largely through halfpenny subscriptions from the community of poor immigrants on Tyneside.

By decree of Pope Pius IX on 29 September 1850, the Catholic hierarchy was restored on a regular pattern to England and Wales.

Seamus Cunningham received his episcopal consecration on 20 March 2009 (feast of St. Cuthbert, the diocese's patron), at St. Mary's Cathedral.

Under the careful guidance of the Reverend Peter Leighton, the cathedral has undergone a thorough period of renovation restoring much of the beauty of the original design.

[5] This was despite multiple issues on his record, including being "subject of safeguarding plans regarding boundaries relevant to working with older teenagers".