History

A timeline of Wakefield Cathedral:

• 1086

  Church in Wakefield believed to be on the site which the cathedral occupies today was mentioned in the Doomsday Book

• 1090

  A Norman church is built on the site shortly after William II gave the church and the land in Wakefield to Lewes Priory, Sussex.

• 1329

  The Norman church was rebuilt and re-consecrated by Archbishop William de Melton.

• 1409 - 1420

  The western tower and spire were added to the church.

• 1469

  The church is rebuilt once again but this time enlarged. The tower and spire remained.

• 1500’s

  Up to the 16th century the church was known by the Anglo Saxon name “All Hallows” and after the Reformation became known as “All Saints” as it remains today.

• 1635

  Sundial added to South Porch (still visible today).

• 1636

  Quire screen, carved by Thomas Grundy of Leeds for the sum of £17.15 completed.

• 1661

  The cathedral font is installed, replacing the medieval font destroyed in the commonwealth

• 1858 - 1874

  Restoration work continued on the church headed up by Sir George Gilbert Scott and his son, John Oldrid Scott – the cathedral as we see it today owes its current late medieval appearance to this restorative work.

• 1859 - 1860

  After years of neglect and severe damage caused by a violent storm, the spire was rebuilt and the tower re-cased.

• 1888

  The Diocese of Wakefield was created and All Saints Church became the cathedral of the diocese (the cathedral still served as a parish church until the year 2000, meaning the head of the Chapter of Canons was called the Provost rather than the Dean).

• 1905

  The current chancel, a trancept and St Mark’s Chapel (at the East End of the cathedral) were built to designs by John Loughborough Pearson and completed by his son, Frank L Pearson to celebrate the churches elevation to cathedral status.

• 1950

  Rood Screen figures, designed by Sir Ninian Comper in 1938, finally completed.

• 1982

  Treacy Hall (which currently hosts the Cathedral Kitchen and our Choir rehearsal space) was completed in memory of former Bishop Eric Treacy.

• 2000

  A parish boundary change brought the Chantry Chapel on Wakefield Bridge into the care of the cathedral, thus relinquishing the cathedrals tandem-role as the parish church for the area (the Provost at the time, the Rt Revd George Nairn-Briggs, thus became the first Dean of Wakefield).

• 2012 - 2016

  Over £6.5million is raised through funding grants (Heritage Lottery Fund) and fundraising for the restoration of the cathedral to how we know it today. 

  This work included: the removal of the pews, a new level stone floor with underfloor heating, new electrics, new lighting, cleaning of interior walls, new seating, new sound system, creation of a quiet space in St Mark’s chapel, dedicated exhibition space and the introduction of the Labyrinth found in the Nave.

  March 2016 – the ten-foot Saxon cross was installed in front of Wakefield Cathedral, marking its recommitment to the people of the city and region and the end of its refurbishment project.