List of cathedrals in England and Wales

Contents

This is a list of cathedrals in England and Wales and the Crown Dependencies of the Isle of Man, Gibraltar and those in the Channel Islands, by country. A list of former and intended cathedrals is listed separately.

A cathedral church is a Christian place of worship that is the chief, or 'mother' church of a diocese and is distinguished as such by being the location for the cathedra or bishop's seat. In the strictest sense, only those Christian denominations with an episcopal hierarchy possess cathedrals. However the label 'cathedral' remains in common parlance for notable churches that were formerly part of an episcopal denomination.

It is a common misconception that the term 'cathedral' may be applied to any particularly large or grand church. Whilst many cathedrals may be such, this is due to their ecclesiastical status. Such a church is grand because it is a cathedral, rather than it being designated a cathedral because of its grandeur. A cathedral may in fact be a relatively small building, particularly where they exist in sparser or poorer communities. Modern cathedrals frequently lack the grandeur of those of the Medieval and Renaissance times, having more focus on the functional aspect of a place of worship. However, many of the grand and ancient cathedrals that remain today were originally built to much smaller plans, and have been successively extended and rebuilt over the centuries.

Some cathedrals were purpose-built as such, whilst others were formerly parochial, or parish churches, subsequently promoted in status due to ecclesiastical requirements such as periodic diocesan reorganisation.

Contents of this list

The following list comprises, for England and Wales and its dependencies, all locations of current cathedral churches, or former cathedral churches, including those locations where no trace remains of the structure, indeed where the precise location is no longer known.

Also included are those structures or sites of intended cathedrals as well as pro-cathedrals, which are churches serving as an interim cathedral, (for instance whilst a permanent cathedral is acquired), or as a co-cathedral where the diocesan demographics/geography require the bishop's seat to be shared with a building in another location.

The inclusion of dependencies is strictly for ecclesiastical reasons—the included dependencies are those that share a province with the mainland of England and Wales.

Terms not covered in the above preamble include translated, which is the move of a bishop's seat from one location to another, moving cathedral status from the former church and bestowing it on the destination church, such as may occur in a diocesan or provincial re-organisation.

England and dependencies

Church of England

Province of Canterbury

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Birmingham Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Philip
Diocese of Birmingham 1905
former parish church [1]
Bristol Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity
Diocese of Bristol 1542–1836, 1897
Augustinian abbey 1140-1539 [2]
St Edmundsbury Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St James
Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich 1914
former parish church [3]
Canterbury Cathedral
Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ
Diocese of Canterbury c. 600
Mother church of the Province of Canterbury and of the Anglican Communion worldwide [4]
Chelmsford Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Mary, St Peter and St Cedd
Diocese of Chelmsford 1914
former parish church [5]
Chichester Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity
Diocese of Chichester 1080
translated from Selsey [6]
Coventry Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Michael
Diocese of Coventry 1962
replaced the cathedral (parish church till 1918) lost during World War II [7]
Derby Cathedral
Cathedral Church of All Saints
Diocese of Derby 1927
[8]
Ely Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity
Diocese of Ely 1109
convent (with monastery?) 673-9th century
secular canons 9th century
Benedictine priory 970-1540
formerly dedicated to St Peter and St Etheldreda
[9]
Exeter Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Peter
Diocese of Exeter 1050
translated from Crediton [10]
Gibraltar Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity
Diocese in Europe 1842
church built between 1825 and 1832
Gloucester Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity
Diocese of Gloucester 1541
joint with Bristol Cathedral 1836-1897
monastery and convent 681
secular canons 823
Benedictine priory 1022-1539
formerly dedicated to St Peter
[11]
Guildford Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Holy Spirit
Diocese of Guildford 1965
[12]
Hereford Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin and St Ethelbert
Diocese of Hereford 676
[13]
Leicester Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Martin
Diocese of Leicester 1927
former parish church [14]
Lichfield Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Chad
Diocese of Lichfield 669-803, 1048
archbishopric 785-803
see moved to Chester 1075
joint with Coventry 1048-1826
The three spires known as The Ladies of the Vale
[15]
Lincoln Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Mary
Diocese of Lincoln 1070
joint with Dorchester c.954-1072
translated from Dorchester 1072
[16]
London Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Paul
Diocese of London 1675
replaced previous cathedral 604-1666 (destroyed in Great Fire of London) [17]
Norwich Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Holy and Undivided Trinity
Diocese of Norwich 1094
translated from Thetford; Benedictine priory 1096-1539 [18]
Oxford Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Oxford
(Christ Church, University of Oxford)
Diocese of Oxford 1542
translated from Osney 1546
convent 727
secular canons 1004
Augustinian priory 1122-1524
formerly dedicated to St Frideswide
[19]
Peterborough Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew
Diocese of Peterborough 1541
abbey 655
church 1238-1539
[20]
Portsmouth Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Thomas
Diocese of Portsmouth 1927
former parish church [21]
Rochester Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Diocese of Rochester 604
secular canons 604-1080
Benedictine priory 1080-1540
formerly dedicated to St Andrew
[22]
St Albans Cathedral
Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban
Diocese of St Albans 1877
Benedictine abbey 976-1539 [23]
Salisbury Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Diocese of Salisbury 1227
translated from Old Sarum [24]
Southwark Cathedral
Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie
Diocese of Southwark 1905
Augustinian priory 1106-1539 [25]
Stanley Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Christ
Parish of the Falkland Islands 1892
described as the most southernly cathedral in the world. An archway of whale bones was erected in 1933 to mark the centenary of British rule
Truro Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Mary
Diocese of Truro 1880
former parish church [26]
Wells Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Andrew
Diocese of Bath and Wells 1239
[27]
Winchester Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, St Peter, St Paul and St Swithun
Diocese of Winchester 650
secular canons to 964
Benedictine priory 964-1539
[28]
Worcester Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary
Diocese of Worcester 743
Benedictine priory 969-1540 [29]

Province of York

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Blackburn Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Mary
Diocese of Blackburn 1926
former parish church [30]
Bradford Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Peter
Diocese of Bradford 1919
former parish church [31]
Carlisle Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity
Diocese of Carlisle 1113
secular canons to 1092

Augustinian priory 1123-1540

[32]
Chester Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary
Diocese of Chester 1541
convent? to 875

secular canons from 907
Benedictine abbey 1093-1540
originally dedicated to St Peter and St Paul, then to St Werburgh

[33]
Durham Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Cuthbert
Diocese of Durham 997
secular canons 997

Benedictine priory 1093-1540
originally dedicated to St Mary and St Cuthbert

[34]
Liverpool Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Christ
Diocese of Liverpool 1904
[35]
Manchester Cathedral
Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George
Diocese of Manchester 1847
former collegiate parish church (1421) [36]
Newcastle Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Nicholas
Diocese of Newcastle 1882
[37]
Peel Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St German
Diocese of Sodor and Man 1980
former Parish Church, built between 1879 and 1884, spire removed 1907

became cathedral in 1980 after several attempts to restore the ruined cathedral on St Patrick's Isle came to no avail

[38]
Ripon Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid
Diocese of Ripon and Leeds 1876
monastery pre-660

later collegiate with secular canons (10th century?)

[39]
Sheffield Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul
Diocese of Sheffield 1914
former parish church [40]
Southwell Minster
Cathedral and Parish Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham 1884
collegiate with secular canons to 1840 [41]
Wakefield Cathedral
Cathedral Church of All Saints
Diocese of Wakefield 1888
[42]
York Minster
Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter
Diocese of York 300
Mother church of the Province of York [43]

Roman Catholic Church

Province of Westminster

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Brentwood Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Helen
Diocese of Brentwood 1917
parish church 1861 [44]
Norwich Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist
Diocese of East Anglia 1976
[45]
Northampton Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Our Lady and St Thomas of Canterbury
Diocese of Northampton 1850
formerly the parish church of St Felix [46]
Nottingham Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Barnabas
Diocese of Nottingham 1850
[47]
Westminster Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Blood, St Mary, St Joseph and St Peter
Archdiocese of Westminster 1910
Mother church of the Province of Westminster [48]

Province of Birmingham

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Birmingham Cathedral
Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Chad
Diocese of Birmingham 1839
Mother church of the Province of Birmingham
pro-cathedral 1839-1841
[49]
Clifton Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul
Diocese of Clifton 1973
preceded by The Pro-Cathedral of the Apostles [50]
Shrewsbury Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Our Lady Help of Christians and St Peter Alcantara
Diocese of Shrewsbury 1850
[51]

Province of Liverpool

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Lancaster Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Peter
Diocese of Lancaster 1924
[52]
Leeds Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Anne
Diocese of Leeds 1878
rebuilt 1904 after original site used for road-widening [53]
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ the King
Diocese of Liverpool 1967
preceded by two earlier unfinished cathedrals [54]
Middlesbrough Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Mary
Diocese of
Middlesbrough
1983
translated to Coulby Newham from Middlesbrough town centre [55]
Newcastle Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Mary
Diocese of Hexham
and Newcastle
1882
[56]
Salford Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist
Diocese of Salford 1850

[57]

Sheffield Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Marie
Diocese of Hallam 1980
[58]

Province of Southwark

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Arundel Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Our Lady and St Philip Howard
Diocese of Arundel
and Brighton
1965
formerly (to 1971) dedicated to Our Lady and St Philip Neri [59]
Plymouth Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Boniface
Diocese of Plymouth 1858
[60]
Portsmouth Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist
Diocese of Portsmouth 1882
[61]
Southwark Cathedral
Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St George
Diocese of Southwark 1850
Mother church of the Province of Southwark [62]

Bishopric of the Forces

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Aldershot Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Michael and St George
Bishopric of the Forces 1972
Cathedral of the Bishopric of the Forces built by Sir Robert Lorimer 1892/3 initially for the Anglican chaplaincies of the British Army

Ukrainian Catholic Church: Exarchy of Great Britain

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
London Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Holy Family in Exile
1968
former United Reformed Church

[63]

Diocese of Gibraltar

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Gibraltar Cathedral
Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned
Diocese of Gibraltar 1462

Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches

Antiochian Orthodox Church

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
London Cathedral NW1
Cathedral Church of St George
Diocese of Western Europe
1a Redhill Street, NW1 4BG

Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Manchester Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Nicholas
2 Hall Moss Road, Blackley, Manchester M9 7AT

Coptic Orthodox Church

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
St. George's Cathedral, Stevenage
Cathedral Church of St George
2002

Greek Orthodox Church

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Birmingham Orthodox Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God and St Andrew
Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain
8 Arthur Place, Summerhill, B1 3DA
former Church of England parish church
Leicester Orthodox Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Nicholas and St Xenophon
Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain
Aylestone Road, Leicester, LE2 7NW
former Church of England parish church of All Souls
Camden Town Cathedral
Cathedral Church of All Saints
Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain
Camden Town, NW1 0JA
London Orthodox Cathedral
Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Sophia
Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain 1922
Westminster, W2 4LQ
consecrated 5 January 1882, mother church of the Greek Orthodox church in Great Britain
London Orthodox Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God
Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain
Wood Green, N22 8LB
London Orthodox Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God
Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain
Camberwell, SE5 0TF
London Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Andrew
Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain 1970
Kentish Town, NW1 9QA
London Orthodox Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Nicholas
Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain
Shepherds Bush, W12 8JW
London Orthodox Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Holy Cross and St Michael
Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain
Golders Green, NW11 8DA

Russian Orthodox Patriarchal Church

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
London Orthodox Cathedral SW7
Cathedral Church of the Dormition and All Saints
Diocese of Sourozh
Ennismore Gardens, SW7 1NH
London Orthodox Cathedral W4
Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God and Holy Royal Martyrs
Diocese of Sourozh
57 Harvard Road, Hounslow, W4 4ED

Serbian Orthodox Church

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
London Cathedral W11
Cathedral Church of St Savas
originally Parish Church of St Columbus, Church of England
Diocese of Great Britain and Scandinavia
Lancaster Road, W11 1QQ

Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
London Cathedral W3
Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Transfiguration of our Saviour
1a Newton Avenue, London, W3 8AJ

Other churches

Ancient Catholic Church

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Stamford Hill Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd

Ancient and Old Catholic Church

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Willibrord and All Saints

Anglican Catholic Church

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Diocese of the United Kingdom, Anglican Catholic Church
Pro-Cathedral Church of St Augustine, Canterbury, Kent
[64]
{{}}
pro-cathedral

Church of England (Continuing)

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Wolverhampton Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Silas
[65]

Free Church of England

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Birmingham (Saltley) Cathedral
Pro-Cathedral Church of Emmanuel
pro-cathedral
Morecambe Cathedral
Pro-Cathedral Church of Emmanuel
pro-cathedral

Holy Catholic Church (Anglican Rite)

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Stoke-on-Trent Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Grace
Newport Lane, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 3NA
former Methodist church, translated from Madeley Heath

Liberal Catholic Church

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Putney Cathedral
Pro-Cathedral Church of All Saints
pro-cathedral

Traditional Church of England

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Windlesham Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St George

Wales

Church in Wales

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Bangor Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Deiniol
Diocese of Bangor 456
secular canons 1092 [66]
Brecon Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist
Diocese of Swansea and Brecon 1923
Benedictine priory 1093/1110-1538 [67]
Llandaff Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul
Diocese of Llandaff 550
monastery, secular canons 1107

originally dedicated to St Peter and St Teilo

[68]
Newport Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Woolos
Diocese of Monmouth 1921
former parish church [69]
St Asaph Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Asaph
Diocese of St Asaph 553
monastery, secular canons 1143 [70]
St David's Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St David
Diocese of St Davids 580
secular canons 1116

originally dedicated to St Andrew and St David

[71]

Roman Catholic Church

Province of Cardiff

Image Name and dedication Diocese Established/Website/Location
Cardiff Cathedral
Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St David
Diocese of Cardiff 1916
[72]
Swansea Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Joseph
Diocese of Menevia 1987
church opened in 1888, located in Convent Street, Greenhill, SA1 2BX [73]
Wrexham Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
Diocese of Wrexham 1907
parish church 1847

pro-cathedral 1907-1987

[74]

See also

References

External links

Media related to Cathedrals in England at Wikimedia Commons
Media related to Cathedrals in Wales at Wikimedia Commons