History
St. Vincent's Church has, for the most part, been abandoned since 1998, although up until recently the empty space had been used to store furniture for St. Vincent's charity - a charity that redistributes such items amongst the city's poorest people.
In 1846, around the time of potato famine in Ireland, a significant proportion of the oppressed population fled to England, seeking work to avoid starvation. Sheffield soon became propitious among many Irish immigrants, owing to the industrial revolution and the beginning of the steel industry. The area around St. Vincent’s teemed with metal-producing works; many of which were one-man workshops, producing cutlery, hand-tools and springs. With the flood of many devout Catholics, a new church was constructed. It took only three years to build St. Mary's church, seating 1500 people, at a cost of approximately £10,563. Nonetheless, there was much conflict between the new Irish residents of the area and the indigenous populace, and consequently, a certain level of hostility developed between the two groups of Catholics. To move away from this growing resentment, Father Edmund Scully vowed to build a new school-chapel, where Irish immigrant Catholics could retain their own faith and identity. A plot of land was bought for £700 and by 1853 it was completed, at a cost of £1,850. In 1856 the chapel was expanded, and although it had no spire/tower, it was recognised as an authenticated church. Further work occurred in 1870 to construct a tower (40ft), and this was again elevated in 1911 to its current height of 93ft. By this time St. Vincent's Church had begun to adopt a typical Norman style design.
Many years later, in December 1940, the church was bombed during the Sheffield Blitz which took place on two nights. Part of the school was destroyed and every window was blown out of the church. Much work to redevelop the church took place throughout the 1950s, and many improvements were added. Nevertheless, amid the post-war slum clearances much of the churches congregation was cleared away, and as the area was rejuvenated it made way for the business area that presently exists in the area. The church ceased activity as a place of worship in 1998.
Our Version of Events
Having initially set out to explore George Barnsley and Sons, we stumbled across this site on our unsuccessful return home. It turned out that just as we arrived, to get into George's place, three local idiots decided to make an attempt at stealing a car - or maybe the things inside - just around the corner. It wasn't long before the place was swarming with police, so we made our departure. We'd made some effort to scout out the church once before and at the time there was no point of entry. This time, however, we managed it! Inside, pigeons have taken residence, making the tower pretty inaccessible; unless you take pleasure in wading through a mountain of pigeon shit. Nevertheless, there are many reminders inside of the former history of the place.
St. Vincent's Church has, for the most part, been abandoned since 1998, although up until recently the empty space had been used to store furniture for St. Vincent's charity - a charity that redistributes such items amongst the city's poorest people.
In 1846, around the time of potato famine in Ireland, a significant proportion of the oppressed population fled to England, seeking work to avoid starvation. Sheffield soon became propitious among many Irish immigrants, owing to the industrial revolution and the beginning of the steel industry. The area around St. Vincent’s teemed with metal-producing works; many of which were one-man workshops, producing cutlery, hand-tools and springs. With the flood of many devout Catholics, a new church was constructed. It took only three years to build St. Mary's church, seating 1500 people, at a cost of approximately £10,563. Nonetheless, there was much conflict between the new Irish residents of the area and the indigenous populace, and consequently, a certain level of hostility developed between the two groups of Catholics. To move away from this growing resentment, Father Edmund Scully vowed to build a new school-chapel, where Irish immigrant Catholics could retain their own faith and identity. A plot of land was bought for £700 and by 1853 it was completed, at a cost of £1,850. In 1856 the chapel was expanded, and although it had no spire/tower, it was recognised as an authenticated church. Further work occurred in 1870 to construct a tower (40ft), and this was again elevated in 1911 to its current height of 93ft. By this time St. Vincent's Church had begun to adopt a typical Norman style design.
Many years later, in December 1940, the church was bombed during the Sheffield Blitz which took place on two nights. Part of the school was destroyed and every window was blown out of the church. Much work to redevelop the church took place throughout the 1950s, and many improvements were added. Nevertheless, amid the post-war slum clearances much of the churches congregation was cleared away, and as the area was rejuvenated it made way for the business area that presently exists in the area. The church ceased activity as a place of worship in 1998.
Our Version of Events
Having initially set out to explore George Barnsley and Sons, we stumbled across this site on our unsuccessful return home. It turned out that just as we arrived, to get into George's place, three local idiots decided to make an attempt at stealing a car - or maybe the things inside - just around the corner. It wasn't long before the place was swarming with police, so we made our departure. We'd made some effort to scout out the church once before and at the time there was no point of entry. This time, however, we managed it! Inside, pigeons have taken residence, making the tower pretty inaccessible; unless you take pleasure in wading through a mountain of pigeon shit. Nevertheless, there are many reminders inside of the former history of the place.
1: Altar
2: Stained Glass Windows (Above Front Door)
3: Decorated Alcove
4: Stained Glass in Alcove
5: Alcove Ceiling
6: Stone Wall Tablet
7: Inside the Tower:
8: The Top of the Tower
9: Lots of Pigeon Shit
10: View of Altar and Former Site of Cross
11: Remains of Organ and Pipes
12: Bibles and Books
13: Stained Glass Shot
2: Stained Glass Windows (Above Front Door)
3: Decorated Alcove
4: Stained Glass in Alcove
5: Alcove Ceiling
6: Stone Wall Tablet
7: Inside the Tower:
8: The Top of the Tower
9: Lots of Pigeon Shit
10: View of Altar and Former Site of Cross
11: Remains of Organ and Pipes
12: Bibles and Books
13: Stained Glass Shot
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Didn"t realise it was this trashed inside TBH and after being next door in the Old School in the Dark i can honestly say the Church is a much much safer place 
