This is a list of former or once proposed cathedrals in Great Britain.
Introduction The term former cathedral in this list includes any Christianhere defined as a member church of the World Council of Churches or the (Roman) Catholic Church church (building) in Great Britain which has been the seat of a bishop,but not one designated as an area bishop, an assistant bishop, or a suffragan bishop but is not so any longer. The status of a cathedral, for the purpose of this list, does not depend on whether the church concerned is known to have had a formal "throne" (or cathedra) nor whether a formal territory or diocese was attached to the church or bishop concerned. Before the development of dioceses, which began earlier in England than in Scotland and Wales, "such bishops as there were either lived in monasteries or were 'wandering bishops.Cook, David (2004). St Boniface 675/754 – the first European. Crediton: Crediton Church Corporation, p. 15 This list, therefore, includes early "bishop's churches" (a "proto-cathedral" is similar).
A former cathedral may be the building that lost its cathedral status or its site, whether now vacant or not. The loss of status may be because that bishopric is extinct, or was relocated. Sometimes a new cathedral was built near an older one, with the older building then used for other purposes, or demolished. Such a building or site counts as a former cathedral. Where a cathedral is modified or rebuilt on substantially the same site in a series of developments over time, the earlier versions are not counted here as former cathedrals (except for cases where the original cathedral was totally rebuilt on broadly the same site but on a visibly different alignment, such as London's "Old St Paul's" and Winchester's "Old Minster" which are listed here).
A former pro-cathedral is a church or former church (or site of a former church) which was once a designated temporary cathedral officially performing that role until completion of a new cathedral built for that purpose.
A once proposed cathedral is a church that was proposed (usually by a church or civil authority) as a future cathedral but, for some reason, did not become one. Known examples will be included in this list. Sometimes a second such proposal for the same church succeeded: as long as that church retains its cathedral status it will not feature in this List.
Entries contain information drawn from other Wikipedia articles and from (cited) other sources. Some entries include (in the Name column) references to 'Site' and 'Status'. In most cases there is no doubt about the site occupied by a former cathedral, nor its status as the former seat of a bishop. In a few cases the site is unknown within a limited area ('uncertain') or over a wide area ('unknown'). In a few cases, it is not entirely clear whether the location was historically the seat of a bishop (or, for a once proposed cathedral, had been seriously considered for elevation to cathedral status). Status 'uncertain' in such cases suggests some doubt, while 'doubtful' suggests considerable doubt.
For information on current cathedrals in Great Britain please refer to:List of cathedrals in England, or List of cathedrals in Scotland, or List of cathedrals in Wales, as appropriate.
England References are to the English church's current use or its use prior to deconsecration.
Former cathedrals founded before 1066 survivors becoming Church of England at the Reformation (1540)