Headingley Hill Congregational Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Headingley Hill Congregational Church |
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Viewed from Headingley Lane in 2020
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| 53°48′59″N 1°33′55″W / 53.8163°N 1.5654°W | |
| OS grid reference | SE 287 356 |
| Denomination | United Reformed Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1864 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Abandoned |
| Heritage designation | |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Designated: | 19 December 1975 |
| Reference #: | 1255982 |
| Architect(s) | Cuthbert Brodrick |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1866 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Gritstone ashlar |
Headingley Hill Congregational Church is an old church building located in Headingley, Leeds, in West Yorkshire, England. It stands at the corner of Headingley Lane and Cumberland Road. This church is a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical structure.
The famous architect Cuthbert Brodrick designed the church in the Gothic Revival style. It was finished in 1866. This was the only church Brodrick ever designed. He is also known for creating other important buildings in Leeds, like Leeds Town Hall and the Corn Exchange.
The church's original congregation moved out in 1978. They joined with another church to form Headingley St Columba URC. After that, the Headingley Hill church building was turned into offices. In 1996, it became a church again, called the Ashwood Centre, when the City Church bought it. However, due to fewer people attending, this church also closed. The building has been empty since at least 2014 and was put up for sale. In 2018, plans were approved to change it into flats.
Contents
History of the Church
How the Church Started
During the Victorian era, Headingley was a village outside the busy town of Leeds. It became a popular place for people to live. By the 1860s, many large stone houses were built there. As more people moved in, new buildings like churches were needed.
So, a group called the Headingley Hill Church Building Committee was formed in 1864. Their goal was to build "an elegant structure" that could hold 600 people. They decided to hold a competition to find the best architect. Several architects were invited to submit their designs.
Cuthbert Brodrick, who was already famous, was eventually chosen directly by the committee in May 1864. They wanted a "Gothic" style church with a spire. The church was to be a congregational church, which meant it followed Protestant traditions.
Building and Opening
Brodrick submitted his plans in June 1864. A special ceremony was held on October 22 to lay the foundation stone. A time capsule was placed inside the stone. Reports from the time said that over £3,000 had already been given by local residents. The total cost, including the land and an organ, was expected to be around £6,000.
The building was finished in the summer of 1866 and officially opened on August 29. The final cost was £3,062. It was hoped that the church would grow and add more seating later, but this never happened.
Headingley Hill Congregational Church is now a Grade II listed building. It was given this status on December 19, 1975. Grade II means it's a "nationally important" building with special historical interest. The walls, railings, and gates around the church were also listed separately in 1996.
What Happened Recently
In 1979, the church's congregation joined with another church. They moved out of the Headingley Hill building. Their new church is now called Headingley St Columba United Reformed Church.
When the church moved out, all the old church furniture was removed. This included the pews, the font, and the altar. In 1981, the building was changed into photographic studios and offices. During this time, a spiral staircase was added, and the church bells and gates were removed.
However, in 1996, the building became a church again. It was renamed the Ashwood Centre when the City Church bought it. Since the City Church closed, the building has been empty. There are now plans to turn it into self-contained flats, and these plans have been approved.
About the Building
Architecture and Design
Cuthbert Brodrick designed the church in the Gothic Revival style. However, his design is quite unique and not like typical Gothic churches. The land slopes downwards, which allowed him to build a basement level. This basement held classrooms and other spaces. The main church area was built above this, with a grand set of steps leading up to the entrance from Headingley Lane. This made the building look very impressive.
The outside of the church is made of rough, grey stone called gritstone. It has smooth, carved stone details and windows with leaded glass. The church has a rectangular shape. Each long side has six sections with pointed tops, and each section has a tall window. Between these sections are stone supports called buttresses, each topped with a carved stone figure.
The main front of the church, facing Headingley Lane, has a Gothic-style entrance. It has two doors, separated by a red stone column. Above the doors, there's a large round window called a rose window. It's made of ten small round windows around a big one in the middle.
To the right of the entrance, there's a tall, thin steeple. It has openings for bells and ends with a pointed stone top, like a small tower, with a cross on top. This kind of steeple is unusual for a Congregational church. The steeple also has carved figures and tall, narrow windows. The front of the church has very detailed carvings, making it look simple from far away but very high quality up close. You can also see carved rosettes all around the building, which were a favorite design of the architect.
The church is set in a larger area with a car park on the west side. Paths from the entrance gates lead to the main steps, which are wide and have a cast iron handrail. The stone wall, gates, and railings around the church are also listed as historically important. There's also another entrance on Cumberland Road.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has a very interesting wooden roof structure. Instead of the usual stone arches, the roof is supported by four pairs of tall, thin cast iron columns. These columns have decorative tops and support carved wooden parts. The ceiling between the wooden beams is painted a deep orange, but it used to be white. Even though all the original seating has been removed, you can still see where the sloped pews used to be on the walls of the gallery above the main entrance.
