Bradford Cathedral

“Serving Christ and transforming lives through welcome, worship and encounter”

Bradford Cathedral is a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. Set in tranquil gardens the Cathedral is Bradford’s most ancient place of worship, alive with peace, prayer, and a sense of story from its 13 centuries at the heart of the City.

We are a place of Anglican worship – one of three Cathedrals in the Diocese of Leeds, alongside Ripon and Wakefield – holding weekly services, as well as other special and civic events throughout the Christian year. We are a partner to other organisations, venues and faith groups in the city. Our clergy team is here to support all people in nurturing their faith, and we are available for baptisms, weddings and more.

The Cathedral runs a high-quality events programme of choral and organ music; art exhibitions and installations; and talks and family activities. We also offer an exciting programme for schools and colleges (holding the quality mark from the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom), and are a heritage venue with free entry for visitors.

The building tells two kinds of story – the Christian story dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, and the Bradford story. The present church, the third on the site, was built in the fifteenth century, and includes elements from the previous building. It was later extended in the 1960s by Sir Edward Maufe.

We were awarded the ‘Small Visitor Attraction of the Year’ in the 2020 Welcome to Yorkshire ‘White Rose Awards’ and were a finalist in the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism’ category of the Yorkshire Post Tourism Awards 2022 and ‘Best Use of Digital – UK’ in the Museums+Heritage Awards 2022 – and you can come and see why! We have a wealth of Morris & Co textiles and stained glass; monuments marking many people and events from Bradford’s history including the Battle of the Steeple, the creation of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, and in memory of the Bradford City Fire. There’s also the WWI window; the cross and hangings in St Aidan’s Chapel, and many other plaques. More information can be found in our visitors’ guide.

Everyone is welcome at Bradford Cathedral – whether you come to pray; to explore the architecture and heritage of the building; to wander around our latest art exhibition; or to simply sit and enjoy the warmth and quiet of the building and grounds.