Grade I listed · Chelmsford

Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin

Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Grade I listed building in Chelmsford, first listed on 20 May 1949. It is one of 20 Grade I entries among 1,010 listed buildings in Chelmsford; 0% of Chelmsford’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
Field	Value
Name	Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin
Grade	Grade I — exceptional interest
List entry number	1328779
Date first listed	20 May 1949
Local planning authority	Chelmsford
Location	51.73522, 0.47233 (map)
Official record	Historic England list entry 1328779

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents Chelmsford will require for your works on Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin, lists what the heritage statement must cover and drafts the application text.

Ask Planium what consent you need

What the grade means for works

Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest — only about 2.5% of listed buildings in England. Any application for listed building consent is notified to Historic England, and alterations are scrutinised closely.

The protection covers the whole building, inside and out, plus fixtures and attached structures. Typical works that need consent: replacing windows or doors, removing walls or historic fabric, changing roof coverings, installing solar panels or external insulation, and adding extensions.

Listed buildings near Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin

Name	Grade	Distance
Monument, 19 Yards North of North Aisle, Commemorating William Baker and Garrad Baker	II	30 m
Sarcophagus, 13 Yards West of West Entrance. Commemorating E E Parker, E C Parker and J D Parker	II	34 m
Monument 34 Yards East of Chancel, Commemorating Members of the Gilson Family	II	39 m
Tomb to North West of Iron Gates, Commemorating M a Woolmer, M E Eve and Mary Smith	II	42 m
Memorial Cross 18 Yards North of Iron Gates, Commemorating H F Johnson, D D Archdeacon of Colchester	II	43 m
5 and 6, Duke Street	II	47 m
K6 Telephone Kiosk adjacent to 6 Duke Street, Chelmsford	II	48 m
4, Duke Street	II	50 m
Obelisk, North East of Chancel Commemorating George Wray and Ann Wray	II	50 m
Mausoleum, East of East End of Cathedral Commemorating John Wallinger and I Arnold Wallinger	II	53 m

Frequently asked questions

Is Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin listed?

Yes. Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade I listed building, list entry number 1328779, first listed on 20 May 1949. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.

Do I need consent for works to Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin?

Works that affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest — inside or out — need listed building consent from Chelmsford, in addition to any planning permission or building regulations approval. Like-for-like repairs often do not, but confirm with the council’s conservation officer before you start.

Source: National Heritage List for England, © Historic England 2026, via planning.data.gov.uk. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Retrieved 12 October 2026. Local authority assigned from the list entry point. This page is a summary — the legal record is the official list entry.