'Heritage Open Days' is an annual celebration of England's architecture and culture that takes place in September. Organised by volunteers and co-ordinated by English Heritage, buildings of every kind and other historical landmarks are open to the public with guided tours and other activities that bring history to life. On Saturday Sheffield Anglican Cathedral organised such an event and there was an opportunity to go up into the bell tower, hear about the relationship between the church and the city through the stained glass windows in the Chapter House, tour the main interior which is now a building site because of a major re-ordering project and listen to period music. I helped out for a while and also spent some time on the tours. There were several 'visitors from the past' who had played an important role in Sheffield's history! It was a full and enjoyable day.
For the children there were period costumes to try on, objects to talk about and, for everyone, music to listen to from different choirs and groups.
shows the Norman Lord of Hallamshire
making plans to build a church on the site
of an earlier Saxon church in the 1100s
A few of the Norman stones (the zig-zag patterned ones)
remain within the walls.
Queen Mary Tudor granted a Charter
to the Burgesses of Sheffield.
Since that time this corporate body
has served the Cathedral, formerly
a parish church and other parish
churches in the city.
Some of the stained glass windows depict people of faith
down the ages.