Festival to show off city's cathedral

A festival of events has been organised to show off the newly-refurbished Wakefield Cathedral.
Wakefield Cathedral.Wakefield Cathedral.
Wakefield Cathedral.

This is Wakefield Cathedral: See for Yourself has been organised to celebrate the re-opening of the city’s landmark following a major multi-million pound programme of works. It will see BBC Radio 2’s Clare Teal, winner of British Jazz Singer 2015, and her trio perform on June 3. The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £15.

There will also be a variety of other events, including a Bethlehem dance troupe from 7pm on Friday, June 17, an opportunity for visitors to sing choral classics, a performance from the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band and the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations, alongside weekly Tuesday lunchtime concerts, messy crafts, political debate and regular daily worship.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Dean of Wakefield, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener, said: “From top to bottom, east to west; this is one of the most dramatic refurbishments of any cathedral in this country for a long time.

“We have renewed the interior, the crypt and even under the stairs, and it’s fabulous.

“We will be opening our doors to reveal our cathedral in all its glory with a festival of events to say thank you to all those who helped us achieve this and to celebrate all that we are and all that we do.

“We invite you to come and see for yourself.”

The £6.5m programme of work on the Grade I listed cathedral started in 2012, when the pews were removed and the nave was refurbished. The second phase of the development last year concentrated on the East End, which has benefitted from clean walls, new lighting and electrics, a level floor, a renewed St Mark’s Chapel and the creation of a quiet area for those who want to simply sit or light a candle. The crypt and the Chapter House have also been renewed. The work was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Visit www.wakefieldcathedral.org.uk/whats-on/this-is-wakefield-cathedral for more information or to book tickets.