Church stands up for change by taking a pew

The pews at Wakefield Cathedral were designed by architect George Gilbert Scott – who designed St Pancras hotel – and installed in 1874.

Their sale raised more than £10,000 towards a major redevelopment project which aims to make the Grade I listed building easier to use for public events such as concerts, celebration and worship.

Yesterday the vergers helped remove the final pews.

Former Wakefield Mayor Jacqui Williams and former mayoral consorts Darren Byford and Peter Davies clubbed together to buy the Mayor’s Pew, which they have given as a gift to the Town Hall. The redevelopment will see the nave – which is now closed – transformed into a more open space.

There will be improved lighting, flooring, heating and sound systems, creating a brighter interior which will showcase the building’s historic character.

The first phase of the project is expected to last 14 months.

So far £2.5m has been raised towards the project, over £1.5m of which was given by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The rest came from other grants, donations and the fund-raising efforts of local people and members of the congregation.

“This is a marvellous moment,” the Dean of Wakefiekd, Reverend Jonathan Greener, said yesterday.

“The work has finally begun after several years of preparation and fundraising.

“We know there’s a lot of hard work ahead but we are really looking forward to delivering a renewed cathedral fit for purpose for the 21st century.”

Fund-raising for the second phase of the project is still ongoing.

The church needs to raise another £1.5m to renovate Treacy Hall and build a glass atrium linking it to the cathedral.

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