All Saints' Church, Pontefract facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church |
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|---|---|
| Church of All Saints | |
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| 53°41′46″N 1°18′03″W / 53.69613°N 1.30074°W | |
| Location | North Baileygate, Pontefract, West Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 14th-15th century (outer church) 1967 (inner church) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Pontefract |
| Diocese | Leeds |
| Province | York |
The Church of All Saints in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England, is a special church. It's an active Church of England parish church. This means it's a local church for the community.
What makes it unique? It's actually two churches in one! There's an older, larger outer church built in the 1300s and 1400s. This part was badly damaged during the English Civil War. Inside its ruins, a smaller, newer church was finished in the late 1960s.
The church is also a "Grade II* listed" building. This means it's a very important historic building. It has been protected since July 29, 1950. All Saints' is one of two main Anglican churches in Pontefract town centre. The other is St Giles'.
Contents
History of All Saints' Church
How the Church Was Built
The oldest part of All Saints' Church was built a long time ago. Construction happened between the 14th and 15th centuries. This means it was built over 600 years ago!
The English Civil War and the Church
The church played a role in the English Civil War. This war happened in England in the mid-1600s. At the start of the war, the church was held by the Royalists. They were supporters of the King.
In December 1644, the Parliamentarians attacked the church. They were the King's opponents. The Royalists inside the church had 11 cannons! The Parliamentarians fired many cannonballs at the church. In just one day, 60 large cannonballs hit it.
Later, in June 1645, the Parliamentarians were in control of the church. But then the Royalists, who were in Pontefract Castle, attacked it. To defend themselves, the Parliamentarians built defenses inside the already damaged church. They even took materials from the church to build these defenses. By 1649, the church's roof was completely gone. The church was left in ruins.
What Does All Saints' Church Look Like?
The church is a mix of old and new. It shows how buildings can change over hundreds of years.
The Old Outer Church (14th-15th Century)
This part of the church is mostly in ruins today. Some changes were made to the ruins in 1838. The outer church has a cross shape when viewed from above. It was built using sandstone.
The ruined main part of the church, called the nave, holds the newer church inside it. There's also an octagonal (eight-sided) tower. This tower was added in the 1700s. You can see a clock face on the tower.
The New Inner Church (20th Century)
The smaller, inner church was finished in 1967. It was designed by an architect named George Pace. This part is made of brick and has a sloped roof. On the front, you can see five old stone heads. These are from the medieval period.
Inside the Church
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Inside the Old Outer Church
The old nave has rows of arches and pillars. But much of the original floor plan is now covered by the newer church built inside it.
Inside the New Inner Church
The inner church was completed in 1967. It used to have old Victorian wooden benches, but these have been replaced. The walls inside are painted white. The church has windows that are placed in a special way. They are offset so they don't get blocked by the old ruins. There are also skylights in the roof.
Above the entrance, there is a raised area called a mezzanine. A pipe organ is located there. You can also see an octagonal stone font. A font is a basin used for baptisms.
Where is All Saints' Church?
The church is on North Baileygate in Pontefract. It's separated from the town centre by Pontefract Castle. The castle is to the west of the church. The closest train station is Pontefract Monkhill. It's about a quarter of a mile away.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in West Yorkshire
- Listed buildings in Pontefract
- St George in the East - a London church ruined in the Blitz, with a modern church constructed within
