Wakefield Cathedral Project 2013
Film, public engagement and change communication during a major Cathedral refurbishment
Client / Partner: Wakefield Cathedral
Date: 2012–2013
Format: Five short films and associated public-facing content
Role: Film production, documentary storytelling and public engagement
“One to One brought real sensitivity and understanding. This was a significant time of change for the Cathedral, and it was important that people could see not only what was happening, but why it mattered. The films helped us communicate the vision behind the refurbishment, capture the atmosphere of the Cathedral at a pivotal time, and keep worshippers; supporters and the wider public connected to the project as it unfolded.”
- Canon Michael Rawson, Wakefield Cathedral
Wakefield Cathedral Project 2013 was a major period of change for one of Wakefield’s most significant historic buildings.
The transformation of the Cathedral Nave involved substantial physical and cultural change, reshaping how the space could be used for worship, reflection, events, learning and wider civic life. As with many major heritage refurbishments, the project required careful communication. The work affected a much-loved and familiar sacred space, and it was important that worshippers, visitors, stakeholders, funders and the wider public could understand what was happening, why it mattered and how the Cathedral was changing.
One to One Development Trust was commissioned to produce a series of five films that followed the project through key stages of transition.
The films captured the Cathedral at a moment of visible change: the final evening in the old Nave, the early stages of work, the thinking and spirit behind the project, the countdown to completion, and a wider snapshot of the year. Together, they created a public record of the refurbishment while also helping audiences connect with the purpose, care and ambition behind it.
Our work translated a complex period of change into a visible, human story. Through interviews, observational filming and documentary coverage, we captured not only the building works, but the people, decisions, emotions and wider vision involved. The films helped audiences see beyond disruption and understand how the renewed Nave could support worship, welcome, culture and civic life in new ways.
The project is a strong example of One to One Development Trust’s heritage filmmaking approach: sensitive to place, attentive to people, and focused on helping audiences understand the value and purpose of change.
The Films
1. Last Evening in the Old Nave
A record of the Cathedral Nave at a significant threshold moment, capturing the atmosphere and emotional weight of the space before major works began.
2. Business as Usual
A film following the early stages of the refurbishment, showing progress, process and the scale of change beginning to take place.
3. The Timelessness of Spirit and Stone
A reflective film exploring the relationship between the historic building, its spiritual life and the vision behind the transformation.
4. The Last Chapter
A film marking the anticipation and momentum around the project as the Cathedral moved closer to reopening and renewed use.
5. Snapshot of the Year
A wider look across the year, bringing together key moments, activity and reflections from a major period in the Cathedral’s life.
Why It Mattered
Wakefield Cathedral Project 2013 demonstrated how film can support a heritage organisation during a period of transition. The films created a record of change, but they also helped communicate care, confidence and purpose at a time when the building was being physically and publicly reshaped.
Rather than simply documenting a building project, the series helped make the transformation understandable and accessible. It gave people a way to follow the process, recognise the significance of the work and connect with the Cathedral’s future as well as its past.