Sheffield Cathedral is the oldest building in Sheffield still in daily use. Formerly the Parish Church of Sheffield, it was granted Cathedral status in 1914 – however the history of Christianity on this site goes back over 1000 years.
Like many churches, Sheffield Cathedral is a building which has many stories to tell. It tells the story of the Christian faith in Sheffield through the centuries of worship, prayers and remembrance which have taken place within its walls and continue today.
It also tells the story of the City of Sheffield from the early 12th century when William de Lovetot built the first church on this site and established the township of Sheffield, through to the newly refurbished and welcoming building which today invites you to explore and learn more about the stories and the heritage told by this remarkable building.
Stones from a Norman church (11th – 12th century) with their dog-tooth pattern, can be seen set in the east wall.
The Tudor monuments in the Shrewsbury Chapel are magnificent, especially the one commemorating the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, husband of Bess of Hardwick and guardian of Mary Queen of Scots during her fourteen years of imprisonment in Sheffield.
The West End of the nave is of modern origin. In the 1960s it was rebuilt in order to allow more light in to the building and a Narthex entrance was added (which now houses the Cathedral shop). Most notable was the addition of a Lantern Tower which can be seen from the outside and a stained glass window of abstract design intended to let the light stream through- be sure to look up when you enter the cathedral.
A new Heritage Interpretation Centre in the Cathedral is on hand op provide even more information about the history and heritage of the building and Sheffield.
You can find a comprehensive accessibility guide for Sheffield Cathedral here. This guide is provided by DisabledGo to help you plan your visit.