Congregation Leaving Parish Church, Sheffield (1902)

Well-to-do Edwardian churchgoers

The large number of worshippers at Sheffield's grand Parish Church illustrates religion's central position in the Edwardian community. Many church leaders disapproved of cinematograph entertainment, which might explain the reserve of these parishioners (or maybe it was a sombre sermon). Their shy smiles to camera contrast with the lively, buoyant atmosphere of other Mitchell and Kenyon films.

The film was shown at Sheffield's Albert Hall and other local venues as part of a wide-ranging cinematograph programme which also included films of the King’s Coronation and a Sheffield United v Wednesday football derby, with musical accompaniment from The Hallamshire Rifles’ Band. The event was "capital entertainment," in the words of the Sheffield Daily Telegraph.  In 1914, with the formation of the Church of England's new Diocese of Sheffield, the Parish Church was redesignated a cathedral; the building was extended after WWI to befit its new status.