Halifax Minster facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Halifax Minster
Minster and Parish Church of St John the Baptist
53°43′24″N 1°51′13″W / 53.72320°N 1.85371°W / 53.72320; -1.85371
OS grid reference	SE 0975 2521
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Broad Church
Website	www.halifaxminster.org.uk
History
Status	Active
Dedication	St John the Baptist
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed building
Architectural type	Perpendicular Gothic
Administration
Parish	Halifax
Deanery	Halifax
Archdeaconry	Halifax
Episcopal area	Huddersfield
Diocese	Leeds
Province	York

Aerial view of Halifax Minster with the town hall to the right and the surrounding area

Halifax Minster is a very important church in Halifax, England. It is also known as the Minster and Parish Church of St John the Baptist. This church is dedicated to St John the Baptist.

It became a "minster" in 2009. A minster is a special church that once served a larger area or had a significant role. Halifax Minster is one of only three churches in West Yorkshire to have this special title. The other two are Dewsbury Minster and Leeds Minster.

The current church was built in the 15th century. It stands where an older Norman church used to be. Inside, you can find many interesting things. These include a medieval font cover, old wooden seats called Jacobean box pews, and the tombstone of a famous diarist named Anne Lister.

Exploring the Minster's History

The very first church on this spot was built around 1120. It was run by Cluniac monks from Lewes Priory. You can still see parts of this old church today. For example, some carved stones in the north wall of the main area (nave) are from that time.

Building the Current Church

The church we see today was built in the 1400s. People needed a bigger church because the town was growing. The main parts, like the nave and chancel, were finished around 1450. The church tower took over 30 years to build, starting in the 1440s.

Two special chapels, the Rokeby and Holdsworth Chapels, were finished around 1530. They were paid for by former vicars (church leaders). One vicar, William Rokeby, even had his heart buried under his chapel!

Old Furniture and Windows

Many of the wooden box pews (enclosed seats) in the church are from 1633 to 1634. You can see old nameplates on some pews, showing who owned them. The oldest one is from 1615.

A tiny piece of medieval stained glass still exists in one window. In the 1600s, a group called the Puritans disliked stained glass. They thought the images were wrong. So, many plain glass windows were put in during that time. Later, in the Victorian era, many of these were replaced with new stained glass.

The large window in the tower is a copy of a window from 1657. The huge east window shows the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. It was made in 1856 and won a prize for its design!

Changes Over Time

In 1878 and 1879, the church had a big "Victorian restoration." This meant removing old galleries (balconies) and plaster from the walls. It changed how the inside of the church looked.

More recently, in 1983, some pews were removed to create an open space for the altar. Around the year 2000, more pews were taken out. This made a larger welcome area with a kitchen.

On March 31, 2007, the church held a special ceremony. The flags of the 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) were brought to the church to be kept there. This regiment has a strong connection to Halifax.

Discovering Minster Features

View of the font at the rear end of the main aisle

The main nave

• The Font Cover: This is a beautiful wooden cover for the font (where baptisms happen). It's very old, from the medieval period, and is considered one of the best in England. It was once brightly painted and gilded. People believed the baptismal water had healing powers, so the cover helped stop it from being stolen.
• Wooden Seats: In the sanctuary, you can see wooden seats called sedilia from the 1400s. They have three special carvings underneath called misericords. These might have come from another old abbey. Six other misericords, including a "Green Man" carving, are also in the church.
• Altar Rails: The church has lovely altar rails from the late 1600s. They have a unique double-spiral carving.
• Painted Ceiling: Look up at the ceiling panels! They show the symbols (heraldry) of important vicars and families from Halifax. These were first painted around 1700.
• Royal Coats of Arms: You can see two Royal Coats of Arms of Queen Anne, carved in 1705.
• "Old Tristram": A life-sized wooden statue called "Old Tristram" holds the alms-box (for donations). It was carved around 1701 and is thought to represent a real person who used to beg near the church.
• Bishop Ferrar Memorial: This monument from 1847 remembers Bishop Robert Ferrar. He was from Halifax and was sadly burned at the stake in 1555.
• John Favour Bust: Next to the Ferrar Monument is a painted statue of John Favour. He was a vicar here from 1593 to 1624. He was a famous doctor and lawyer, and he started Heath Grammar School in Halifax.
• The Wellington Chapel: The church's south choir aisle is the chapel for the Duke of Wellington's Regiment. This regiment has a long history. You can see their old flags, including some from famous battles like Waterloo and the Crimean War.
• Pulpit on Wheels: The church has a pulpit (where sermons are given) that can be moved around on wheels! It was given in 1879.
• Anne Lister's Tombstone: The tombstone of Anne Lister (1791–1840) was recently found. She was a famous diarist from Shibden Hall. Her damaged tombstone is now in the Rokeby Chapel.
• List of Vicars: On the west wall, you can find a list of all the past rectors and vicars. Some famous ones include Hubert Walter, who became Archbishop of Canterbury, and William Rokeby, who became Archbishop of Dublin.

The Minster Organ

The church has a large organ that was built by John Snetzler and put in place in 1766. The organ has been made bigger many times over the years. It was completely rebuilt in 1928 by Harrison & Harrison. Only a small part of the original Snetzler organ remains today.

Organists of Halifax Minster

Many talented musicians have been the organist at Halifax Minster. Here are some of them: