The Broad Ford

• Likely that Christianity reaches this site as a result of Bishop Paulinus’ mission from the court of King Edwin of Northumbria. Monks come from Dewsbury to this hillside just above the “Broad Ford”

Ilbert de Lacy

• In return for services to William the Conqueror, Ilbert de Lacy (born in Lassi, France) is given English land, including Bradford

Eldred Beany

• Records show that Eldred Beaney restored the small church

Alice de Lacy

• Alice de Lacy gives a grant to the parish of Bradford that is recorded in the register of Archbishop Wickwayne. Also recorded is the name of the rector appointed by her, Robert Tonnington; the parish is endowed with 96 acres of land

Sunday Market

• Market now takes place on Sundays, in the area of the churchyard

Scottish Raids

• Scottish raids on Bradford and surrounding area begin; Church is destroyed by Scottish raiders. Fire blackened stones have since been found from this period underneath the present chancel

The Black Death

• Black Death almost decimates Bradford

Pestilence

• Pestilence ravages Bradford and the northern counties; many inhabitants move away for a time

South Aisle

• South aisle is completed

The third church is completed

• Third church on this site -the present one – is completed. Much later it is extended. In 1458, the roof rests just above the arches

The roof is raised!

• Roof is raised and the clerestory (upper part of the nave, with windows) added; building of the tower begins.

The Font

• Believed to be the date of the ornate oak font canopy, which is still in the Cathedral

The Spanish Armada

• Beacon fires are thought to have been lit on high ground about Bradford to give warning of the approach of the Spanish Armada

Bradford is sold!

• Charles 1 sells Bradford to the City of London to pay his father’s debts

Battle/s of the Steeple

• Woolsacks are hung from the tower of the church as a defence against cannon fire from Royalist forces. For this reason, the woolsack is later used as a symbol on the Church’s and then the Cathedral’s crest.

The Plague

• Bradford’s population is reduced by plague, believed to be brought by a bundle of clothing from London

The Clock is installed

• This is the only public clock in Bradford for many years. The workings of the clock used to be housed in a room halfway up the tower, which is now the bell ringing room

Church Bank Vicarage

• Vicarage is provided in Church Bank, for the sum of £153. Previous vicars had lived in Goodmansend and probably walked to the church along nearby Vicar Lane

Church is re-pewed

• There are now no pews in the building as these were taken out in the 1980s to make the space more flexible for services and events

Roof is added

• A new oak-timbered roof is added, with the timbers coming from Tong Forest. It is an impressive feature, which can still be seen today

Bells

• Number of bells is increased to 8

To accommodate larger congregations, galleries are installed on all sides

• The walls are whitewashed and a false ceiling is put up; the aisle roof is raised to accommodate the galleries; a triple-decker pulpit is installed halfway down on the north side

John Wesley

• John Wesley preaches here to a crowded congregation, on his last appearance in Bradford

Bradford

• According to the first national census, Bradford’s population is 13,264

Henry Heap becomes vicar

• Heap presents Patrick Bronte to the living of Haworth

William Scoresby Jnr

• William Scoresby Jnr, a renowned Arctic explorer and scientist, becomes vicar. He is particularly well-known for his scientific work in the fields of oceanography and magnetism. There is a plaque commemorating him in the north porch

Bells

• Number of bells is increased to 10

First stained glass window is installed

• It was installed by Morris & Co. at the east end of the church. It features designs by Morris, Rossetti, Burne-Jones, Maddox Brown, Marshall, Webb and de Morgan. You can still see it at the east end extension

Bradford Town Hall

• Bradford Town Hall, now City Hall, opens

Bradford becomes a city

• Bradford is granted city status

Bradford Parish Church becomes Bradford Cathedral

• Mother church of the newly-created Diocese of Bradford

Bishop’s Throne or “Cathedra” is added to the Cathedral

• Presented by the people of Ripon Diocese, from which the new Bradford Diocese is created

Song Room is completed

• Prior to building, a steep cart track is uncovered that was probably the route for hauling up the stones from the quarry that were used to build the existing church

North side graveyard

• It is grassed over and houses are built for the clergy

Cathedral exterior undergoes a dramatic transformation

• The whole building is cleaned using a wet blasting technique, with the old and new parts now blending together for the first time. In this 1960s photo you can see that the new parts really stood out before!

Interior is re-ordered

• Pews are removed, hospitality area and new lighting are added

UNESCO City of Film

• Bradford becomes a UNESCO City of Film

Solar Panels

• 42 photo voltaic cells are placed on the south side roof, making this the first cathedral to generate its own power

Diocese of Leeds is created

• It has 3 cathedrals of equal status: Bradford, Ripon and Wakefield

Centenary Year

• Bradford Cathedral centenary year

Bradford 2025

• Bradford is UK City of Culture