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 church. Today, it is part of the University of Sheffield. It serves as a lecture hall and provides student housing.
Contents
History of St George's
St George's was the first of three special churches built in Sheffield. These churches were called "Commissioners' churches." They were built with money from the government after the Church Building Act of 1818. This law helped build new churches as towns grew bigger.
Design and Construction
The church was designed by architects Woodhead and Hurst. They used a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looked like old Gothic churches. It had tall windows and pointed arches. The building was finished in 1825. It cost about £15,181 to build. The government's Church Building Commission paid for the whole cost.
The church is about 37 meters (122 feet) long and 20 meters (67 feet) wide. It has a tall tower that is about 43 meters (140 feet) high. Inside, there was a main hall called a nave and a smaller area called a chancel. There were also balconies along the sides and at the back. The church could hold up to 380 people. The first stone was laid on July 19, 1821. The church was officially opened on June 29, 1825.
From Church to University Building
St George's Church stopped being used as a church in 1981. It was empty for several years. Then, the University of Sheffield bought the building. In 1994, it was changed into a lecture theatre and student homes. Before this, it was the last of the original 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.
Peregrine Falcons
In 2010, a special nest-box was put on the church roof. A pair of peregrine falcons made it their home. These amazing birds can be seen on a live webcam. It's a great way to watch them raise their young!
See also
- Listed buildings in Sheffield
- List of Commissioners' churches in Yorkshire
