St Bartholomew's Church, Armley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Bartholomew's Church, Armley |
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| 53°47′41″N 1°35′13″W / 53.79462°N 1.58701°W | |
| OS grid reference | SE 27301 33209 |
| Location | Leeds |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | www.stbartsarmley.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Bartholomew |
| Consecrated | 1877 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed building |
| Architect(s) | Henry Walker and Joseph Althron |
| Architectural type | Perpendicular Gothic |
| Completed | 1872 |
| Construction cost | £20,000 (£1,280,000 in 2021) |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 57m |
| Width | 18m |
| Height | 34m |
| Spire height | 57m |
| Materials | Horsforth sandstone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Armley with New Wortley |
| Deanery | Armley |
| Archdeaconry | Leeds |
| Episcopal area | Leeds |
| Diocese | Leeds |
| Province | York |
St Bartholomew's Church, Armley is a special parish church in the Church of England. It is located in Armley, West Yorkshire, England. This church is one of two Church of England churches in the Armley area. People who go to St Bartholomew's follow the Anglo-Catholic traditions. This means they celebrate a solemn mass every week.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
Early Days: First Chapel
The very first chapel in Armley was built a long time ago, in 1630. However, it wasn't officially blessed until 1674 by Richard Sterne, who was the Archbishop of York. In 1737, the chapel was made bigger. They added an extension to the north side, raised the roof, and put in a small balcony at the west end.
New Church Building
In 1825, the chapel was greatly expanded. This was thanks to Benjamin Gott, a local businessman who owned woollen mills in Leeds. He was very generous.
A completely new church building started being built in 1872. It was designed by architects Henry Walker and Joseph Althron from Leeds. This new church is now a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historical building. The church was officially blessed in 1877, but its tall tower wasn't finished until 1904. The church is made from strong Horsforth sandstone. The old chapel building was taken down in 1909.
Special Features Inside the Church
Beautiful Carvings and Art
The church has a beautiful Caen stone reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar). It was put in place in 1877. This reredos has amazing alabaster carvings. These carvings show scenes like the Magi (the wise men), the crucifixion of Jesus, and figures from the Old Testament. John Wormald Appleyard was present when the church was blessed in 1877. Since no other carver is mentioned, it's thought he might have created these beautiful carvings.
Unique Pulpit and Memorials
The pulpit (where the sermon is given) is made of alabaster and marble. It was designed by architect Thomas Armfield. He based his design on a pulpit in St. Sebaldus Church, Nuremberg in Germany. This pulpit was carved by Mawer and Ingle for the old St Bartholomew's Church in 1861. When the new church was built, the pulpit, the font (for baptisms), and old tomb memorials were all moved to the new building.
At the west end of the north aisle, there is a sculpture by Joseph Gott. This sculpture is a memorial to Benjamin Gott of Armley House, who passed away in 1839. In the south aisle, there is another sculpture called Faith comforting the Mourner. This piece remembers Benjamin and Elizabeth Gott's two sons who died in Paris and Athens. Benjamin Gott's son, William Gott, was buried in the family vault in the old St Bartholomew's Church.
The Famous Organ
St Bartholomew's Church is very well known for its amazing organ. This organ was built by a German builder named Edmund Schulze. It was first put into a place called Meanwood Towers in 1869. Then, in 1877, it was moved to St. Peter's Church, Harrogate. After some disagreements, the organ found its permanent home at St. Bartholomew's in 1879.
The organ has been rebuilt and restored several times over the years. This work was done by famous organ builders like James Jepson Binns in 1905, and Hill, Norman and Beard in 1956. More recent work happened in 1974 by John T. Jackson and Son, and in 2004 by Harrison & Harrison.
This organ is so special that it has been given a Grade II* listing by the British Institute of Organ Studies. This means it's a great example of its builder's work and is still mostly in its original condition. You can find all the details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Images for kids
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The famous organ inside the church.
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John Varley Roberts, a former organist.
See also
- Listed buildings in Leeds (Armley Ward)
