Derby Cathedral

In 1927 the existing parish church in Derby was hallowed to become a Cathedral for the creation of the new diocese of Derby. The building is of three distinct periods: the tower, built in the early sixteenth century, James Gibbs' nave and screen from the early seventeenth century and Sebastian Comper's retrochoir and baldachino completed in 1972.

There has been a church on this site since Saxon times. Thought to be founded by King Edmund in 943 as a royal collegiate church, no visible trace remains of the Saxon Church. At some time during the fourteenth century, a new church was built, though whether this replaced the original or a later one is not certain. Not much is known in detail about the medieval building.

From the middle of the seventeenth century, the fabric of the church appears to have deteriorated steadily and in 1723 Dr Michael Hutchinson, the Vicar began its demolition. He appointed architect James Gibbs and builder Francis Smith. Gibbs' church, a simple rectangular building in the classical style and married to the retained sixteenth century tower and porch, extended as far as the present position of the high altar, with a large three-light Venetian east window.

In 1884, a new diocese of Southwell was created and the majority of the County of Derbyshire was transferred from the See of Lichfield to the new see. In 1889, the first assistant bishop to the diocesan Bishop of Southwell was appointed with the title Bishop of Derby. He and his successor worked with the first Bishops of Southwell for the creation of a new diocese of Derby, and this was bought to fruition with the hallowing of All Saints as its Cathedral Church on 28th October 1927.

In 2000 the Cathedral Plus Appeal was launched to raise money for the renovation of 18/19 Irongate, an 18th Century Grade II listed building located opposite the Cathedral, to create a Visitor Centre. The Cathedral Centre comprises a Treasury, Coffee Shop and Gift Shop, Biblical Garden, Education Centre, Bishop Rawlinson Library, Listening Room and Cathedral Offices.

General Information:

• Access for disabled level from street
• Coffee shop in Cathedral Centre
• Gift shop in Cathedral Centre
• Pre-booked guided tours available
• Medieval tower open on a number of days - contact Cathedral office for details