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- Visitor centre home
- History
- Virtual tour
- Around the Cathedral
- The West End
- The 1554 Gallery
- The Nave
- The Chancel
- The Sanctuary
- The Shrewsbury & Lady Chapels
- The Chapel of St Katharine
- The Window of the Six Worthies
- The Chapel of St George
- The Chapel of the Holy Spirit
- The Crypt
- The Chapter House
- Architecture
- Tudor monuments
- The bells of Sheffield Cathedral
- 10 ways to look for God
- Guided Tours
- The Community Resource Centre
- Archives
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Did you know?
On the north wall of the Sanctuary are the busts of three former vicars of Sheffield.
The Chancel
This area, together with the tower and spire, forms the structure of the parish church which was built about 1430. It is the only piece of medieval architecture in the city which is in continual use.
The richly carved hammer beam roof has a ‘choir’ of eight gilded angels: three are holding scrolls, one is playing a wind instrument, another has a shield, another a crown and two are holding up their hands in praise. Two of the figures have markings of feathers on their breasts, one has a scarf knotted around the neck and two others appear to be wearing vestments. Their wings were added in 1966 as a gift of the architect, Arthur Bailey.
Beneath the angel choir are the Canons’ stalls. They were designed by the famous Gothic revival architect Temple Moore and given by the Freemasons in 1920 as part of their war memorial.
The grand chair on the south side of the chancel is the ‘cathedra’ - the Bishop’s ‘throne’. Hence the name ‘cathedral’ - the church where the Bishop has his seat.
The throne was designed by Nicholson and is made of English oak enriched with colour and gilding. It has a vaulted canopy, bearing the arms of the Diocese of Sheffield and the figures of St Peter and St Paul. Above is the figure of Christ, surmounted by a carving of the pelican, a Christian symbol of sacrifice.
