Sheffield Cathedral
Sheffield Cathedral is three buildings in one: a fifteenth-century parish church, two grand twentieth-century schemes to enlarge it that were never finished, and a bright modern entrance of 2014. It can be confusing from the outside, but inside it rewards a slow look, with the tombs of the earls who guarded Mary, Queen of Scots, a chancel roof of gilded angels and a lantern filled with coloured glass.
The parish church of Hallamshire
A church was built here in the early twelfth century by William de Lovetot, the Norman lord of Sheffield. It was burned in 1266, and largely rebuilt in about 1430; the Shrewsbury Chapel was added in about 1520 for the Talbot Earls of Shrewsbury, who held Sheffield Castle. A ninth-century Anglo-Saxon cross shaft that probably stood here is now in the British Museum.
When the Diocese of Sheffield was created in 1914 the parish church became its cathedral. Charles Nicholson began a grand enlargement in the 1930s, cut short by war; a simpler scheme by Ansell & Bailey with George Pace was completed in 1960–66, with a new west end and a lantern. In 2013–14 the Gateway project gave the building a new entrance, a level floor and oak benches. The cathedral is also home to the Archer Project, which has worked with homeless people in the city since 1989.
The visitor's cheat sheet
| Where | Church Street, Sheffield, S1 1HA |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Cathedral tram stop outside; about 15–20 minutes’ walk from Sheffield station; car parks on Campo Lane |
| Opening hours | Daily; usually about 8.15am–6pm weekdays, 9am–4.30pm Saturday, 7.30am–5pm Sunday; check before a special trip |
| Admission | Free; donations welcome |
| How long | About an hour |
| Best time | A Tuesday in term time, staying for Choral Evensong |
| Dress code | None; it is a working cathedral |
| Tours | Group tours booked by email; occasional ticketed evening tours |
Hours and admission checked against the official site in October 2026. They change; the official site is always the last word.
Mary, Queen of Scots in Sheffield. George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, kept the captive queen for fifteen years, from 1569 to 1584, much of that time at Sheffield Castle and Sheffield Manor. His monument is in the cathedral, with a long Latin inscription by the martyrologist John Foxe.
What to see, in the order you meet it
The nave and the lantern
You enter through the glass entrance of 2014 into the nave of the 1960s. Look up into the lantern over the west end, where Amber Hiscott’s abstract glass of 1998–99 scatters coloured light. The stainless-steel font is by Brian Fell.
The Shrewsbury Chapel
Beside the chancel is the chapel of the Earls of Shrewsbury. The chest tomb of the 4th Earl, who died in 1538, has alabaster effigies of the Earl and his two wives. On the wall is the monument of the 6th Earl, who died in 1590, with his life-size effigy in armour.
The chancel
The medieval chancel is the oldest part of the cathedral. Its sixteenth-century hammerbeam roof is carried on gilded angels, and in the chancel are medieval stone seats for the priests, the sedilia.
St George’s Chapel
The chapel of the York and Lancaster Regiment, hung with its colours. Its screen is made of swords and bayonets.
Visiting
Free to visit
Entry is free. Groups can book a guided tour by email, and the cathedral runs occasional ticketed “After Hours” tours in the evening.
The hotel link goes to Booking.com. This site earns nothing from it at present — it is here because it is the quickest way to check what is actually available.
Don't miss
- The Shrewsbury tombs The earls who held Mary, Queen of Scots.
- The angel roof Gilded angels over the chancel.
- The lantern glass Amber Hiscott’s colours.
- St George’s Chapel A screen of swords and bayonets.
- The sedilia Medieval seats for the priests.
- Choral Evensong Tuesdays and Sundays in term.
Insider tips
See the city’s other cathedral. St Marie’s, the Catholic cathedral, is three minutes’ walk away on Norfolk Row, and the Peace Gardens and the Winter Garden are just beyond. For a day out, the ruins of Roche Abbey are about half an hour’s drive east.
Common questions
Is Sheffield Cathedral free to visit?
Yes. Entry is free and donations are welcome. Groups can book a guided tour by email, and the cathedral runs occasional ticketed evening tours.
When is Sheffield Cathedral open?
It is open every day, usually from about 8.15am to 6pm on weekdays, 9am to 4.30pm on Saturdays and 7.30am to 5pm on Sundays. Different pages of the cathedral’s website give slightly different times, so check before a special trip.
Who is buried in the Shrewsbury Chapel?
The Talbot Earls of Shrewsbury, lords of Sheffield. The chapel holds the tomb of the 4th Earl, who died in 1538, with his two wives, and the monument of the 6th Earl, who died in 1590 and for fifteen years was the keeper of Mary, Queen of Scots, much of that time in Sheffield.
When can you hear Choral Evensong?
In term time Choral Evensong is usually sung on Tuesdays at 5.30pm and on Sundays at 4pm. The cathedral’s service list has the details.
How do you get to Sheffield Cathedral?
The Cathedral tram stop is on Church Street, right outside. From Sheffield station it is a walk of about 15–20 minutes uphill, or a short tram ride. There is no parking at the cathedral; there are car parks at either end of Campo Lane.
Where to stay and eat nearby
The 1554 coffee and gift shop is at the entrance, and the city centre around the cathedral is full of cafés and restaurants.
More English churches
- Roche Abbey — Cistercian ruins in a Capability Brown valley
- York Minster — about an hour by train
- Southwell Minster — the leaves of Southwell