Old St Matthew's Church, Lightcliffe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old St Matthew's Church, Lightcliffe |
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Tower of Old St Matthew's Church, Lightcliffe
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| Location | Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire, England |
| OS grid reference | SE 140 254 |
| Built | 1775 |
| Architect | William Mallinson |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical |
| Governing body | Friends of Friendless Churches |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Designated | 3 January 1967 |
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Old St Matthew's Church in Lightcliffe is a very old building. It is in the village of Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire, England. Today, only its tall tower is left standing. This tower is a special historic building. It is protected as a Grade II listed building in England. A group called the Friends of Friendless Churches helps take care of it.
Contents
History of the Old Church
The first building on this spot was a small church. It was called Eastfield Chapel and was built in 1529. This chapel was a "chapel of ease." This meant it was built for people who lived far from the main church.
The chapel was damaged during the Reformation. This was a time in the 1500s when there were big changes in the church. The chapel was fixed in 1536.
Building a New Church in 1775
In 1775, the chapel was rebuilt into a larger church. It was designed by William Mallinson from Halifax. The church was built in a style called Neoclassical. This style uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
Later, in the late 1800s, a brand new church was built nearby. The old church was then used as a mortuary chapel. This is a small building where bodies are kept before a funeral.
Saving the Tower
In the 1960s, a big storm badly damaged the old church. Over time, the building got worse. It was also damaged by people. The local church leader, the Bishop of Wakefield, wanted to knock down the whole church.
But after talking, they made a deal. The church would pay to knock down most of the old building. The Friends of Friendless Churches would pay to fix and save the tower. This group helps protect old churches that are no longer used.
The Friends were given a 99-year lease for the tower on January 1, 1974. Marshalls of Elland did the repair work. A building expert named Dr. John Harvey watched over the repairs. More repairs were done in 1990.
The famous Yorkshire artist Peter Brook even painted a picture of this church.
Architecture of the Tower
The tower is square at its base. It is built from rough stone called hammer-dressed stone. It also has smooth, cut stone called ashlar around the edges.
Tower Features
On the west side of the tower, there is a round-topped window. Above it is a round window. Near the top, where the bells would be, there is a stone with writing on it. This stone came from the even older church that was there before.
At the very top of the tower, there is an eight-sided dome. This is called a cupola. On top of the cupola is a decorative ball shape called a finial.
Inside the tower, you can find an old stone from 1529. There are also special boards that list people who gave money to the church. Plus, there is a monument from 1830. It was designed by a famous artist named Richard Westmacott.
