St. Mary's Church, Sheffield

Saint Mary's Church, located on Bramall Lane in Sheffield, is a Church of England parish church with a rich history and significant architectural heritage. It is one of the three churches built in Sheffield under the Church Building Act of 1818, alongside Saint George's Church, Portobello, and Saint Philip's Church, Netherthorpe. Among these, Saint Mary's is the only one still actively used as a church. Designed by the architect Joseph Potter, the church's foundation stone was laid on October 12, 1826, by the Countess of Surrey, and it was consecrated on July 21, 1830.

The church is constructed in the Perpendicular Gothic style and features a prominent 140-foot (43-meter) high tower. It was damaged during the Sheffield Blitz of World War II. Following the bombing, the church underwent restoration, during which it was divided into two sections: the chancel and the two east bays of the nave continued to function as a church, while the remainder of the building was repurposed as a community center. In a historical incident in 1839, Chartists who were wary of the newly built Anglican churches made an unsuccessful attempt to set fire to Saint Mary’s.

Saint Mary's Church is recognized as a Grade II* listed building on the National Heritage List for England, highlighting its architectural and historical significance. In 2000, a major internal refurbishment was undertaken, merging the church and community center into a combined multifunctional space that is also used for hosting conferences. The church maintains close ties with Sheffield United F.C., whose ground is located nearby on Bramall Lane. During the 2000 refurbishment, church services were held at the football club, reflecting the strong community connection between the church and the local sports team.