The Renaissance

All Saints' Parish Church, Rotherham

This is a beautiful perpendicular style church and was built in the 14th and 15th centuries. Some parts of the earlier Norman and Saxon buildings were used.

The church is now known as Rotherham Minster.

Thomas Rotherham

Thomas Rotherham was born on 24th August 1423. He received his early education from a local grammar teacher before going to Eton, King's College, Cambridge and into the church.

He won the patronage of King Edward IV's queen, Elizabeth Woodville, and rose through the hierarchy, becoming in turn Bishop of Rochester, Bishop of Lincoln and, in 1480, Archbishop of York.

As Archbishop of York and Chancellor of England, Thomas Scot was one of the most important men in the country. He held his home town in high regard. In 1480 he founded the Chapel of Jesus within the Parish Church, and later in 1482 he founded the red brick College of Jesus in Rotherham which was a very important school. He probably paid for the chantry chapel built in 1483 on Rotherham Bridge.

Archbishop Rotherham was twice Lord Chancellor of England, from 1474 to 1483 and then briefly in 1485. He died on 29th May 1500 and was buried in York Minster.

Chantry Bridge

This was built in 1483. Thomas Rotherham probably paid some money towards this. The bridge was already there when the chapel was added to it.

The idea of the chapel was to provide a place where masses could be sung for the people who paid for them to be built. This was done to speed their way to heaven. Rotherham's chantry is a good example. There are only two other chantry bridges in the country.