St George's Church, Portobello facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St George's |
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St George's Church from the southeast
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Anglican |
| District | Diocese of Sheffield |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Redundant church |
| Year consecrated | 1825 |
| Location | |
| Location | Sheffield City Centre South Yorkshire, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Woodhead and Hurst |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1825 |
| Construction cost | £15,181 (equivalent to £1,010,000 in 2021) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 380 |
| Length | 122 feet (37 m) |
| Width | 67 feet (20 m) |
| Height (max) | 140 feet (43 m) |
St George's Church, Portobello, is a historic building in Sheffield, England. It used to be a Church of England parish church. Today, it is part of the University of Sheffield. It now serves as a lecture hall and provides homes for students.
Contents
History of St George's Church
St George's was the first of three special churches built in Sheffield. These were called "Commissioners' churches." They were built using money from the Church Building Act of 1818. The other two churches were St Mary's Church and St Philip's Church (which was taken down in 1951).
Building Design and Style
The church was designed by architects Woodhead and Hurst. They used a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looked like older Gothic churches, but it was built in the 1800s. It specifically used the "Perpendicular Gothic" style, which has lots of straight lines and tall windows.
The church cost £15,181 to build. This money was paid entirely by the Church Building Commission.
Size and Features
The building is about 37 meters (122 feet) long and 20 meters (67 feet) wide. It has a main hall called a nave with a flat ceiling. There is also a smaller area called a chancel. A tall tower reaches up to 43 meters (140 feet) high.
Inside, there were galleries along the north and south walls. There was also a two-level gallery on the west wall. The church could hold 380 people. The first stone was laid on July 19, 1821. The church was officially opened on June 29, 1825, by Archbishop Vernon Harcourt.
From Church to University Building
The church stopped being used as a church in 1981. It stayed empty for several years. Then, the University of Sheffield bought it. In 1994, it was changed into a lecture theatre and student housing.
Before this change, St George's was the last of the Commissioners' churches in Sheffield to still look like it did when it was first built. The building is now a "Grade II listed building." This means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected.
Wildlife on the Rooftop
In 2010, a special nest-box was put on the church's roof. This box is now home to a pair of peregrine falcons. These amazing birds can be seen live on a webcam!
See also
- Listed buildings in Sheffield
- List of Commissioners' churches in Yorkshire
