Sheffield is home to two cathedrals, the Anglican cathedral on Church Street and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Marie on Norfolk Row.
Sheffield Cathedral
Sheffield Cathedral is the oldest surviving building in Sheffield still in use. Set behind the main shopping area, the church of St Peter and St Paul was originally the parish church before becoming the cathedral for the newly created diocese of Sheffield in 1914.
The first church is thought to have been built in the C12th as a satellite of Worksop Priory, at the opposite end of the town to the now demolished Sheffield Castle. Shortly after it was built, the church burnt down and was replaced. This church was rebuilt around 1430 in the Perpendicular style of architecture with a central tower and spire. The Shrewsbury Chapel was added in the C16th as the family vault of the Talbot family, Earls of Shrewsbury. The hammer beam roof in the chancel dates from then. St Katherine’s Chapel was added in the C18th. There was a major restoration in the C19th.
The crypt, St George’s Chapel and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit were added in the 1930s when there were plans to radically realign the building with a new spire, chancel and sanctuary on the north side and a new nave on the south side. The existing nave was to be demolished. St George’s Chapel was intended to be the new chancel with the Chapel of the Holy Spirt as the Lady Chapel.
Funding and the Second World War led to these plans being abandoned. The very modern looking west end of the cathedral was added in the 1960s. The glorious stained glass of the lantern tower dates from 1998/9.
Entry is through the shop into the majestic west end of the cathedral. This is impressive on the inside and with stylish but simple lines. The modern stainless steel font is at the back of the nave and there is a small heritage interpretation centre. Opposite the entrance, a glass door leads into the 1554 gallery cafe and Community Resource Centre. The large stained glass window is late Victorian and depicts the Acts of the Apostles, featuring St Peter and St Paul who were both patron saints of the cathedral.
The west end was rebuilt with a lantern tower in the 1960s to allow more light into the building. Looking up, this is a stunning structure. The wood star represents Christ’s crown of thorns. The colours of the abstract stained glass symbolise humanity's struggle and conflict (blue and violet) transformed through the Resurrection and the Holy Spirit (gold and red) into healing and growth (green). This really is one of the best bits of the building.
The nave was substantially rebuilt in the C19th with tall and slender arcade pillars. The wooden ceiling has gilded bosses and previous roof lines can be seen above the crossing. The light oak benches replaced fixed Victorian pews and can be moved to allow the place to be used for concerts, recitals etc.
The highly carved oak pulpit is Late Victorian and has carvings of Jesus the Good Shepherd, the four apostles and Moses with the Ten Commandments. On the handrail are the figures of St Peter and St Paul.
The side aisles have C19th stained glass and memorials to the great and good.
The C20th window of Sheffield Worthies was originally on the north wall of Old St George’s Chapel but moved to its present position on the east wall of the north transept in the 1960s. It depicts soldiers and benefactors of the church from the last Saxon Lord of the Manor (top left) to the Parliamentarian Governor of Sheffield Castle after its surrender in the Civil War (bottom right).
The chancel was built in the early C15th but includes many recycled stones from the original church.
The lovely hammer beam ceiling with its angels dates from then, although the angel's wings were added in the 1960s.
The east window depicts depicts Saint Matthew, Moses, David and Saint John. It is a memorial to James Montgomery, who was a C19th newspaper editor, social reformer, anti-slavery campaigner, and a supporter of the Sunday School movement,. On the north wall of the sanctuary are memorials to three former vicars. One of them, James Wilkinson, famously refused permission for John Wesley to preach in the church.
The splendidly gilded bishop’s chair has the figures of St Peter and St Paul with Christ. At the top is a pelican, a Christian symbol of sacrifice, shown feeding its young with drops of its blood as it pecks its own breast.
The chancel and Shrewsbury chapel to the south are separated by a stone arcade. Under an arch is the splendid tomb of George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury and Lord of the Manor of Sheffield, with his two wives, Anne and Elizabeth. He is dressed as a Knight of the Garter and his feet rest on a Talbot Dog. This is an extinct breed of hunting dog that was adopted as the heraldic symbol of the Earls of Shrewsbury for its loyalty, tracking prowess and nobility .
He was responsible for building the Shrewsbury Chapel as a private family chapel with a burial vault for the Talbot family, Earls of Shrewsbury, beneath.
On the opposite wall is the memorial to George, 6th Earl (again with his feet resting on a Talbot Hound.) He was the fourth husband of Bess of Hardwick and custodian of Mary Queen of Scots. The long Latin inscription details his faithful and loyal service to Elizabeth I, noting ‘much expenditure’ on his part as gaoler to Mary, but no mention of Bess... . Bess is not buried here but in Derby Cathedral.
The ceiling has lovely carved and gilded bosses. The reredos dates from 1935 and has Christ in the centre surrounded by saints who had chapels in the Medieval Church.
On the north side of the chancel is St Katherine’s Chapel, which was built in the C18th, replacing a wooden shed on the site. It originally housed Sheffield’s only fire engine and was later the vestry. It became a chapel as part of the 1930s alterations, in memory of the wife of the first Bishop of Sheffield. It celebrates the ministry of women in the Church of England. This is reflected in the east window which includes the monogram of the Mother’s Union.
The dark oak ordinands’ chair is C15th.
The 1967 stained glass window on the north wall depicts the ‘Works of Charity’ from the New Testament.
cont...
Sheffield Cathedral
Sheffield Cathedral is the oldest surviving building in Sheffield still in use. Set behind the main shopping area, the church of St Peter and St Paul was originally the parish church before becoming the cathedral for the newly created diocese of Sheffield in 1914.
The first church is thought to have been built in the C12th as a satellite of Worksop Priory, at the opposite end of the town to the now demolished Sheffield Castle. Shortly after it was built, the church burnt down and was replaced. This church was rebuilt around 1430 in the Perpendicular style of architecture with a central tower and spire. The Shrewsbury Chapel was added in the C16th as the family vault of the Talbot family, Earls of Shrewsbury. The hammer beam roof in the chancel dates from then. St Katherine’s Chapel was added in the C18th. There was a major restoration in the C19th.
The crypt, St George’s Chapel and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit were added in the 1930s when there were plans to radically realign the building with a new spire, chancel and sanctuary on the north side and a new nave on the south side. The existing nave was to be demolished. St George’s Chapel was intended to be the new chancel with the Chapel of the Holy Spirt as the Lady Chapel.
Funding and the Second World War led to these plans being abandoned. The very modern looking west end of the cathedral was added in the 1960s. The glorious stained glass of the lantern tower dates from 1998/9.
Entry is through the shop into the majestic west end of the cathedral. This is impressive on the inside and with stylish but simple lines. The modern stainless steel font is at the back of the nave and there is a small heritage interpretation centre. Opposite the entrance, a glass door leads into the 1554 gallery cafe and Community Resource Centre. The large stained glass window is late Victorian and depicts the Acts of the Apostles, featuring St Peter and St Paul who were both patron saints of the cathedral.
The west end was rebuilt with a lantern tower in the 1960s to allow more light into the building. Looking up, this is a stunning structure. The wood star represents Christ’s crown of thorns. The colours of the abstract stained glass symbolise humanity's struggle and conflict (blue and violet) transformed through the Resurrection and the Holy Spirit (gold and red) into healing and growth (green). This really is one of the best bits of the building.
The nave was substantially rebuilt in the C19th with tall and slender arcade pillars. The wooden ceiling has gilded bosses and previous roof lines can be seen above the crossing. The light oak benches replaced fixed Victorian pews and can be moved to allow the place to be used for concerts, recitals etc.
The highly carved oak pulpit is Late Victorian and has carvings of Jesus the Good Shepherd, the four apostles and Moses with the Ten Commandments. On the handrail are the figures of St Peter and St Paul.
The side aisles have C19th stained glass and memorials to the great and good.
The C20th window of Sheffield Worthies was originally on the north wall of Old St George’s Chapel but moved to its present position on the east wall of the north transept in the 1960s. It depicts soldiers and benefactors of the church from the last Saxon Lord of the Manor (top left) to the Parliamentarian Governor of Sheffield Castle after its surrender in the Civil War (bottom right).
The chancel was built in the early C15th but includes many recycled stones from the original church.
The lovely hammer beam ceiling with its angels dates from then, although the angel's wings were added in the 1960s.
The east window depicts depicts Saint Matthew, Moses, David and Saint John. It is a memorial to James Montgomery, who was a C19th newspaper editor, social reformer, anti-slavery campaigner, and a supporter of the Sunday School movement,. On the north wall of the sanctuary are memorials to three former vicars. One of them, James Wilkinson, famously refused permission for John Wesley to preach in the church.
The splendidly gilded bishop’s chair has the figures of St Peter and St Paul with Christ. At the top is a pelican, a Christian symbol of sacrifice, shown feeding its young with drops of its blood as it pecks its own breast.
The chancel and Shrewsbury chapel to the south are separated by a stone arcade. Under an arch is the splendid tomb of George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury and Lord of the Manor of Sheffield, with his two wives, Anne and Elizabeth. He is dressed as a Knight of the Garter and his feet rest on a Talbot Dog. This is an extinct breed of hunting dog that was adopted as the heraldic symbol of the Earls of Shrewsbury for its loyalty, tracking prowess and nobility .
He was responsible for building the Shrewsbury Chapel as a private family chapel with a burial vault for the Talbot family, Earls of Shrewsbury, beneath.
On the opposite wall is the memorial to George, 6th Earl (again with his feet resting on a Talbot Hound.) He was the fourth husband of Bess of Hardwick and custodian of Mary Queen of Scots. The long Latin inscription details his faithful and loyal service to Elizabeth I, noting ‘much expenditure’ on his part as gaoler to Mary, but no mention of Bess... . Bess is not buried here but in Derby Cathedral.
The ceiling has lovely carved and gilded bosses. The reredos dates from 1935 and has Christ in the centre surrounded by saints who had chapels in the Medieval Church.
On the north side of the chancel is St Katherine’s Chapel, which was built in the C18th, replacing a wooden shed on the site. It originally housed Sheffield’s only fire engine and was later the vestry. It became a chapel as part of the 1930s alterations, in memory of the wife of the first Bishop of Sheffield. It celebrates the ministry of women in the Church of England. This is reflected in the east window which includes the monogram of the Mother’s Union.
The dark oak ordinands’ chair is C15th.
The 1967 stained glass window on the north wall depicts the ‘Works of Charity’ from the New Testament.
cont...
