List of tallest church buildings in the United Kingdom explained

From the Middle Ages until the advent of the skyscraper, Christian church buildings were often the tallest buildings in the United Kingdom. Indeed, it was not until the building of the BT Tower in London in 1962 that St Paul's Cathedral was no longer the city's tallest structure.

The United Kingdom no longer features as prominently on the list of tallest churches worldwide, but in 1311, Lincoln Cathedral surpassed the Great Pyramid of Giza to become the world's tallest building. Salisbury Cathedral is the present tallest church building in the country, standing at a height of 123 metres (404 feet), and it remains amongst the tallest medieval churches in the world.

Extant churches

Note: This list does not include church buildings which have been reduced in height, either through rebuilding or damage due to disaster. These buildings are incorporated into the list of tallest churches buildings. The height referred to in the table includes weathervanes etc on spires and pinnacles. Actual architectural height may be lower.

Churches 200 feet or taller

RankName of ChurchHeight (m)Height (ft)LocationNotesImage
1Salisbury Cathedral123404Salisbury, WiltshireTallest church in the United Kingdom, amongst the tallest medieval churches in the world.[1]
2St Paul's Cathedral111366City of LondonLondon's tallest structure from 1710 to 1962; previous tallest in London until Great Fire of London.[2]
3Liverpool Anglican Cathedral101331LiverpoolTallest church in the United Kingdom without a dome or spire, amongst the tallest non-spired churches in the world. Largest church in the UK by area, longest Cathedral in the world.[3]
4Norwich Cathedral96315Norwich, Norfolk[4]
5Preston, St Walburge94309Preston, LancashireTallest non-cathedral church in the United Kingdom, tallest Roman Catholic church in the country.[5]
6Edinburgh, St Mary's Cathedral90295EdinburghThe tallest of the three Cathedrals in the UK with three spires. Tallest church in the UK outside of England.[6]
7Louth, St James89293Louth, LincolnshireTallest Church of England parish church in the country.[7] Architectural height of 288 feet.[8]
8(Old) Coventry Cathedral88290CoventryCathedral destroyed in the Coventry Blitz on November 14, 1940; only the tower and spire remain intact. New Cathedral built adjoining old.[9] Architectural height 284 feet.[10]
9Westminster Cathedral87284LondonTallest Roman Catholic Cathedral in the country.[11]
10Grantham, St Wulfram87283Grantham, LincolnshireArchitectural height 274 feet[12] [13]
11Warrington, St Elphin86281Warrington, Lancashire[14]
12=Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral85278Liverpool[15]
12=Kensington, St Mary Abbots85278Kensington, Greater LondonTallest parish church in London.[16]
14Chichester Cathedral84277Chichester, West Sussex[17]
15St Mary Redcliffe84274BristolCommonly misquoted as 292 feet high, which includes the deep foundations and substructure.[18] Architectural height 262 feet.
16Lincoln Cathedral83272Lincoln, LincolnshireFormerly tallest building the world from 1311 to 1549 when spire collapsed in a storm. Tallest medieval non-spired church in the country.[19] [20]
17Boston Stump81271Boston, LincolnshireArchitectural height 267 feet.[21]
18Derry, St Eugene's Cathedral78256Derry[22]
19Kilburn, St Augustine77253Kilburn, Greater London[23]
20Lichfield Cathedral77252Lichfield, StaffordshireThe only medieval cathedral in the United Kingdom with three spires.[24]
21Truro Cathedral76249Truro, Cornwall[25]
22Wakefield Cathedral75247WakefieldTallest church in Yorkshire.[26]
23Hulme, St Mary73241Hulme, Greater Manchester[27]
24=Lancaster Cathedral73240Lancaster
24=Salford Cathedral73240Salford, Greater Manchester[28]
26=Canterbury Cathedral72236Canterbury[29]
26=Newark-on-Trent, St Mary Magdalene72236Newark-on-Trent, NottinghamshireTallest church in Nottinghamshire. Architectural height 231 feet.[30]
26=Coventry, Holy Trinity72236CoventryTallest surviving church in Coventry.[31]
26=Halifax, All Souls72236Halifax, West Yorkshire[32]
30York Minster72235YorkLargest medieval Cathedral in the United Kingdom.[33]
31Chesterfield, St Mary and All Saints70230Chesterfield, DerbyshireFamous for its twisted spire.[34]
32Trinity Church, Ossett69226Ossett, West Yorkshire[35]
33=Westminster Abbey69225London[36]
33=Gloucester Cathedral69225Gloucester[37]
33=Glasgow, St Mungo's Cathedral69225Glasgow[38]
36Bath, St John68222Bath[39]
37Derry, St Columb's Cathedral67221Derry[40]
38=Leicester Cathedral67220Leicester[41]
38=Albion United Reformed Church67220Ashton-under-Lyne[42]
40Durham Cathedral66218DurhamLargest surviving Romanesque cathedral in the United Kingdom.[43]
41Ely Cathedral66217Ely, CambridgeshireKnown as the 'Ship of the Fens' due to its huge size above the surrounding flat marshes.[44]
42=Bristol, Christ Church Clifton65212Clifton, Bristol[45]
42=Derby Cathedral65212Derby[46]
42=Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs65212Cambridge[47]
42=Ashbourne, St Oswald65212Ashbourne, Derbyshire[48]
46=Bottesford, St Mary the Virgin64210Bottesford, Leicestershire[49]
46=Armagh, St Patrick's Cathedral (Roman Catholic)64210Armagh[50]
46=Dorking, St Martin64210Dorking, Surrey
49South Dalton, St Mary63208South Dalton, East Riding of Yorkshire[51]
50=Plymouth Cathedral62205Plymouth[52]
50=St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow62205Glasgow[53]
52=Worcester Cathedral62203Worcester[54]
52=Newcastle Cathedral62203Newcastle-upon-TyneArchitectural height 194 feet.[55]
54=Southampton, St Mary61202Southampton[56]
54=Bournemouth, St Peter61202Bournemouth
54=Spitalfields, Christ Church61202Spitalfields, Greater London
54=Bodelwyddan, Marble Church61202Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire
54=Birmingham, St Martin61202Birmingham[57]
59=St John the Divine, Kennington61200London[58]
59=Oxford, University Church of St Mary the Virgin61200OxfordArchitectural height 191 feet.[59]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Britain's tallest spire. 2021-01-20. Salisbury Cathedral. en.
  2. Web site: Climb the Dome - St Paul's Cathedral. 2021-01-20. St Paul's Cathedral, London.
  3. Web site: Liverpool Cathedral - The Tower. 2021-01-20. Liverpool Cathedral.
  4. Web site: Jane Vadnal. Philip Maye. Medieval Norwich Cathedral- Plans and Drawings. 2021-01-20. Art and Architecture of Medieval Churches, University of Pittsburgh.
  5. Web site: St Walburge’s Church • Visit Preston. 2021-01-20. Visit Preston.
  6. Web site: St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh 110847 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307023817/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/110847/st-marys-episcopal-cathedral-edinburgh-united-kingdom. dead. March 7, 2016. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  7. Web site: St James’s Visitor Information – Team Parish of Louth. 2021-01-20. Louth Parish Team.
  8. Flannery, Julian (2016). Fifty English Steeples: The Finest Medieval Parish Church Towers and Spires in England. New York City, New York, United States: Thames and Hudson. pp. 458–471. .
  9. Web site: Munzara. Tatenda. How Coventry Cathedral Emerged From the Ruins. 2021-01-20. Culture Trip.
  10. Flannel, Julian (2016). Fifty English Steeples: The Finest Medieval Parish Church Towers and Spires in England. Thames and Hudson. pp. 262–273. .
  11. Web site: Westminster Cathedral, London 136291 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128095208/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/136291/westminster-cathedral-london-united-kingdom. dead. January 28, 2021. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  12. Web site: Ross. David. Grantham, St Wulfram's Church History, Photos & Visiting Information. 2021-01-20. Britain Express. en.
  13. Flannery, Julian (2016). Fifty English Steeples: The Finest Medieval Parish Church Towers and Spires in England. New York City, New York, United States: Thames and Hudson. pp. 130–141. .
  14. Web site: Warrington St Elphin. 2021-01-20. Explore Churches. en.
  15. Web site: Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool 110845 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20160615190607/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/110845/metropolitan-cathedral-of-christ-the-king-liverpool-united-kingdom. dead. June 15, 2016. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  16. Web site: St. Mary Abbots Church, London 136689 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128063914/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/136689/st-mary-abbots-church-london-united-kingdom. dead. January 28, 2021. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  17. Web site: Jane Vadnal. Philip Maye. Medieval Chichester: Market Cross. 2021-01-20. Art and Architecture of Medieval Churches, University of Pittsburgh..
  18. Flannel, Julian (2016). Fifty English Steeples: The Finest Medieval Parish Church Towers and Spires in England. Thames and Hudson. pp. 179–180. .
  19. Web site: Santos. Cory. 2013-11-06. When Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world. 2021-01-20. The Lincolnite. en.
  20. Web site: Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln 127684 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20160622031715/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/127684/lincoln-cathedral-lincoln-united-kingdom. dead. June 22, 2016. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  21. Flannel, Julian (2016). Fifty English Steeples: The Finest Medieval Parish Church Towers and Spires in England. Thames and Hudson. pp. 444–457. .
  22. Web site: St. Eugene's Cathedral, Londonderry 208561 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128101540/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/208561/st-eugenes-cathedral-londonderry-united-kingdom. dead. January 28, 2021. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  23. Web site: St. Augustine's Church, London 136424 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20200702141059/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/136424/st-augustines-church-london-united-kingdom. dead. July 2, 2020. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  24. Web site: Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield 208562 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127230340/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/208562/lichfield-cathedral-lichfield-united-kingdom. dead. January 27, 2021. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  25. Web site: Truro Cathedral, Truro 208563 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20150410011223/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/208563/truro-cathedral-truro-united-kingdom. dead. April 10, 2015. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  26. Web site: The Architecture. 2021-01-20. Wakefield Cathedral. en.
  27. Web site: Church of St Mary Upper Moss Lane Hulme Manchester - Building Architects of Greater Manchester. 2021-01-21. Manchester Victorian Architects.
  28. Web site: Salford Cathedral, Salford 209611 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20191110204032/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/209611/salford-cathedral-salford-united-kingdom. dead. November 10, 2019. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  29. Web site: Cathedral Map. 2021-01-20. Canterbury Cathedral. en-GB.
  30. Flannel, Julian (2016). Fifty English Steeples: The Finest Medieval Parish Church Towers and Spires in England. Thames and Hudson. pp. 142-151. .
  31. Web site: Holy Trinity Church, Coventry 209612 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20210129074244/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/209612/holy-trinity-church-coventry-united-kingdom. dead. January 29, 2021. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  32. Web site: All Souls' Church, Halifax 209720. https://web.archive.org/web/20210611222750/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/209720/all-souls-church-halifax-united-kingdom. June 11, 2021. dead. 2021-06-11. Emporis.
  33. Web site: York Minster Dimensions. 2021-01-21. Medieval and Middle Ages History Timeline.
  34. Web site: Newman. Dr Alan P. Chesterfield's Crooked Spire. 2021-01-20. Atlas Obscura. en.
  35. Web site: Ossett Pictures - Holy Trinity Church. 2021-05-21. www.ossett.net.
  36. Web site: Westminster Abbey, London 136418 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128131335/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/136418/westminster-abbey-london-united-kingdom. dead. January 28, 2021. 2021-01-21. Emporis.
  37. Web site: Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester 209726 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20171111183020/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/209726/gloucester-cathedral-gloucester-united-kingdom. dead. November 11, 2017. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  38. Web site: Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow 139848 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121134/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/139848/glasgow-cathedral-glasgow-united-kingdom. dead. January 19, 2019. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  39. Web site: HIGHEST - Church Spire in Bath - St. John the Evangelist - Bath, Somerset - Superlatives on Waymarking.com. 2021-01-21. www.waymarking.com.
  40. Web site: Brown. Oliver. Living City - St Columb's Cathedral. Foyle Civic Trust.
  41. Web site: Leicester Cathedral, Leicester 210867 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128165310/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/210867/leicester-cathedral-leicester-united-kingdom. dead. January 28, 2021. 2021-01-20. Emporis.
  42. Web site: Albion United Reformed Church, Ashton-under-Lyne 267861 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210611222753/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/267861/albion-united-reformed-church-ashton-under-lyne-united-kingdom. June 11, 2021. dead. 2021-06-11. Emporis.
  43. Web site: Simpson. David. 2019-11-10. Durham Cathedral central tower : A view from the Top. 2021-01-20. England's North East. en-GB.
  44. Web site: Ely Cathedral - A Descriptive Tour of Ely Cathedral. 2021-01-20. Ely Cathedral.
  45. Web site: Christ Church Clifton, Bristol 151241 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20171111165821/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/151241/christ-church-clifton-bristol-united-kingdom. dead. November 11, 2017. 2021-01-21. Emporis.
  46. Web site: Derby Cathedral. 2021-01-20. Cheshire Now.
  47. Web site: Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs, Cambridge 211447 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210611222751/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/211447/church-of-our-lady-and-the-english-martyrs-cambridge-united-kingdom. June 11, 2021. dead. 2021-06-11. Emporis.
  48. Web site: St Oswald's Church, Ashbourne 211449 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210611222752/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/211449/st-oswalds-church-ashbourne-united-kingdom. June 11, 2021. dead. 2021-06-11. Emporis.
  49. Web site: St Mary the Virgin History. 2021-01-21. www.stmarysbottesford.co.uk.
  50. Web site: 2009-09-28. Archiseek - Irish Architecture - 1860 - St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh. 2021-01-21. Archiseek - Irish Architecture. en-US.
  51. Web site: Churches - Dalton Holme Parish Council. 2021-01-21. Dalton Parish Council.
  52. Web site: Plymouth Cathedral, Plymouth 212647 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20200705170655/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/212647/plymouth-cathedral-plymouth-united-kingdom. dead. July 5, 2020. 2021-01-21. Emporis.
  53. Web site: St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Glasgow 208621. https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121613/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/208621/st-marys-episcopal-cathedral-glasgow-united-kingdom. January 19, 2019. dead. 2021-06-11. Emporis.
  54. Web site: Worcester Cathedral, Worcester - Building #646. 2021-01-21. www.skyscrapernews.com.
  55. Flannel, Julian (2016). Fifty English Steeples: The Finest Medieval Parish Church Towers and Spires in England. Thames and Hudson. pp. 434–443. .
  56. Web site: St Mary's Church, Southampton 1419228 EMPORIS. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128142702/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/1419228/st-marys-church-southampton-united-kingdom. dead. January 28, 2021. 2021-01-21. Emporis.
  57. Web site: St Martin's-in-the-Bull Ring, Birmingham 225376 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210613123011/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/225376/st-martins-in-the-bull-ring-birmingham-united-kingdom. June 13, 2021. dead. 2021-06-13. Emporis.
  58. Web site: History . St John the Divine, Kennington . 5 May 2024.
  59. Flannel, Julian (2016). Fifty English Steeples: The Finest Medieval Parish Church Towers and Spires in England. Thames and Hudson. pp. 114–123. .