The site of the cathedral has a long history of Christian use. The shaft of the 9th century Sheffield Cross, believed to have formerly been sited here, is now held by the British Museum. Sheffield's first parish church, a satellite of Worksop Priory, was constructed here in the twelfth century by William de Lovetot at the opposite end of the town to Sheffield Castle. This established the area of the parish of Sheffield, unchanged until the 19th century. This first church was burnt down in 1266 during the Second Barons' War against King Henry III.
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The parish of Sheffield was subdivided into smaller parishes in 1848. The church is still the parish church for the smaller Parish of Sheffield, but in 1914 it was also made the cathedral church for the newly-created Diocese of Sheffield. Plans were drafted by Charles Nicholson to extend the church and reorient it on its axis, but due to World War II these were greatly scaled down. The resulting additions leave the church an awkward shape in plan, but with an impressive south elevation.