The cathedral sits right in the centre of Wakefield and has little around it, no cathedral close or gardens as some have. It was originally a parish church and was designated a cathedral in 1888 when the Diocese of Wakefield was created.
Its external appearance owes much to a Victorian restoration by George Gilbert Scott in the late 1800s. Inside, the recent work saw the pews in the nave removed, to create an open space for worship and public events. The nave was completely refurbished and overhauled and then, in a second phase of work, the East end, chapels, crypt and chapter house were all refurbished.
The end result is light, bright, attractive and welcoming. They have relaunched with a wide ranging programme of worship, concerts and events, aiming to make the cathedral even more a focal point of the city of Wakefield and its regeneration.
While I can see the practical value of replacing wooden pews with rows of plastic chairs, or even steel-framed upholstered seats, it still doesn't look quite right to me. The view you've shown us of the rood screen and chancel looks very impressive indeed - apart from those three chairs of course!
ReplyDeleteThe interior looks gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThe famous and beautiful Frauenkirche in Dresden, knocked flat by Arthur Harris and lovingly rebuilt since, shares with Wakefield Cathedral the fact that it is surrounded by nothing. Maybe we Brits are not exactly innocent of this fact. However, optically I find this extra space enhances the architectural presence of a building making it something very special to be admired from afar.
ReplyDeleteQuite impressive inside!
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