Wakefield Cathedral

Wakefield Cathedral

Wakefield Parish Church circa 1690

Wakefield Parish Church, known until the 15^th century as All Hallows in the Pavement, Wakefelde, and afterwards as All Saints Church, is 156 ft. in length by 69 ft. wide. Its tower has an internal width of 22 ft. and rises to a height of 105ft with a spire on top rising a further 142ft.

There has been, it seems, a church on this site since approximately 1080; built in the shape of a simple cross, formed by a chancel, nave & transepts connected by a central tower supported by plain round arches. In about 1150 there was an addition of an aisle to the nave on the north side to avoid the burial ground to the south. Seventy years later however a south aisle was added encroaching into the cemetery. There were seven bays of alternate octagonal and round columns.

Some time in the early part of the 14^th century the central tower collapsed destroying part of the north aisle. The church was again rebuilt with a high pitched roof and wider and higher aisles. This church was consecrated upon the Feast of St. Lawrence, August 10^th, 1329 by William de Melton.

Around 1420 a new bell tower was built 10ft from the west end with a bay added to the north and south aisles to envelop it into the church.

After further additions in the 15^th century the parish church became a cathedral in 1881.

Wakefield Cathedral June 1999

Plans of the Parish Church	Burials	Bibliography
Return to Cemetery Pages	Wakefield Historic Sketch The Rev. J.L. Sisson, A.M.	Return to Church Index

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