Catholic Chapel, Sheffield Crematorium, December 2014

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HughieD

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Not been on any proper moochs for a while so here's a bit of a gap filler. No interiors for this one as it's sealed tight, but enough decent exteriors of this beautiful little gem to merit a little report.

This fantastic little church is the former Roman Catholic mortuary chapel of St Michael (C Hadfield 1898-1900), built in Gothic Revival style, which stands 365m north-east of the main entrance of Sheffield's City Road Cemetary. Originally financed by the Duke of Norfolk how was a catholic himself. Many of the 'Little Sisters of the Poor', who nursed at the Shrewsbury Hospital (Alms houses) on Norfolk Road are buried here. The area in front of the chapel, known as the Priest Vaults, was not originally designated as land for burial. However, a special resolution was passed by the Burial Board, that enabled the Catholic Diocese to bury their Priests and Canons in a vault on the land.

Here's a bit more detail in terms of its architectural features courtesy of it National Heritage Listing:

"Built of coursed, squared stone with ashlar dressings and plain tile roofs. It comprises a chancel with lantern, a sacristy, nave and west porch. The hexagonal chancel has two single lancets on the north and south sides, and is topped with an hexagonal lantern with a larger single lancet on five sides, and a round-arched trefoil window to west. The chancel and lantern have hipped roofs and the lantern is topped with a cross. The nave has three lancet windows on the north and south sides, and a triple lancet window on the west gable. The porch has a moulded round-arched double door."

The chapel is currently vacant and in poor condition. The chapel closed in 1980 due to lack of funds and use and since then it has deteriorated at an alarming rate. It was Grade II listed in 1995 but this hasn't helped save the little place. It's now surrounded by herras fences and deemed a dangerous structure. Other than that not much history on this little chapel.

Its National Heritage Listing details can be found here:

http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-456584-roman-catholic-mortuary-chapel-at-city-r

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Cheers both. Yup - agreed - the roof is on its last legs. The Cemetery is managed by Sheffield City Council so good to see they are taking the management of listed building seriously. Not.

Ha, I know all about derelict listed buildings in cemeteries... I don't know about Sheffield but Bristol city council has about 40k/year budgeted to look after its listed buildings.
 
Ha, I know all about derelict listed buildings in cemeteries... I don't know about Sheffield but Bristol city council has about 40k/year budgeted to look after its listed buildings.

QUOTE=HughieD;299346] The Cemetery is managed by Sheffield City Council so good to see they are taking the management of listed building seriously. Not.[/QUOTE]

Sheffield has a similar low budget allotted to Listed Building maintenance. Once again, the parlous state of this building, illustrates the stupidity of Listing without putting in place funding to maintain or preserve. These places were built when the ritual of death was treated in a far different manner than it is today - being replaced by the interfaith crematoria chapels we see in many cemeteries today. My personal view is that Councils should not be responsible for the upkeep, of what are no more than specialised private chapels. Instead of servicing the religious needs of a family, they serviced the needs of a particular denomination such as Church of England or Catholic - so perhaps the upkeep of such places should fall at the gates of Canterbury or Rome? Quite clearly the local Catholic community were not able to continue financial support after 1980.
 

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