Chantry Chapel of St Mary the Virgin

The chapel was built at the same time as the bridge, between 1342 and 1356, and operated from 1356 until the Reformation and the Abolition of the Chantries Acts in the mid-16th century when all four of Wakefield’s chantry chapels were closed. While Wakefield’s other three chantry chapels are no longer standing, this chapel survived as it was considered an important structural element of the bridge. It has since been used as a cheesecake shop, a library, a tailor and a warehouse and it re-opened as a parish church in 1848.

It is a Grade I listed building and the bridge upon which it sits is a scheduled ancient monument.

What to see at the Chantry Chapel of St Mary the Virgin

The chapel is a unique building and if you’re lucky enough to visit on an open day you have the opportunity to see inside the building and appreciate its intricate carving and its
medieval stained glass windows.

Visiting the Chantry Chapel of St Mary the Virgin

The Chantry Chapel of St Mary the Virgin is located on a small island in the middle of the River Calder and is accessible via the 14th-century Chantry Bridge.

It is located between Wakefield Kirkgate station and the Hepworth art gallery, which are both less than a five-minute walk away.

The church is only occasionally open to the public so most visitors are only able to see it from the outside; however, if you’re lucky enough to visit on an open day then you have the rare opportunity to see inside a 14th-century chantry chapel. Open days, which are indicated on the chapel’s website, normally coincide with bank holidays and the Christmas period when the chapel often hosts a craft fair.

It is a very small chapel so a visit shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes or so.