St Giles' Church, Pontefract facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Giles' Church |
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| Church of Saint Giles | |
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| 53°41′30″N 1°18′42″W / 53.69157°N 1.31170°W | |
| Location | Market Place, Pontefract, West Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | http://www.stgilespontefract.org.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | early 18th century |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Pontefract |
| Benefice | Benefice of Pontefract |
| Diocese | Leeds |
| Province | York |
The Church of St. Giles is a beautiful old church located in Pontefract, a town in West Yorkshire, England. It's an active Anglican church, which means it's part of the Church of England. St. Giles' is considered a very important building, so it has a special status called Grade II* listed. This means it's a building of particular importance, with more than just special interest.
St. Giles' is one of two Anglican churches right in the center of Pontefract. The other is All Saints'. In June 2019, these two churches joined together to form one larger church community. The current priest leading the church is Canon June Lawson.
Contents
A Look Back: History of St. Giles' Church
The main part of St. Giles' Church was rebuilt a long time ago, in the early 1700s. Some parts were added later in the same century. Because of its history and special design, the building was given its Grade II* listed status on July 29, 1950. This protects it and makes sure it's looked after for future generations.
What Does St. Giles' Church Look Like?
Outside the Church
The church is built from strong, cut stone called Ashlar gritstone and sandstone. Its roofs are made of pitched slate and lead. The church has a tall tower on the west side. The main part of the church, called the nave, and the area near the altar, called the chancel, are under one continuous roof.
You'll see seven sections of round-arched windows, each with three lights (or panes of glass). Above the main paneled door, there's a sundial with a triangular top, called a pediment. The bell tower is shaped like an octagon (eight sides) and was rebuilt in 1786. It has three levels and features a doorway on the south side. There are also clock faces on the south and north sides. A famous architect named Thomas Atkinson, who worked for John Carr of York, designed this tower.
Inside the Church
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When you enter from the west tower, you'll find a round-arched doorway. This leads into a small entrance area called a vestibule. From here, two sets of stairs go up. A pointed archway separates this vestibule from the main part of the church, the nave. Smaller doors lead to the north and south aisles, which are the side sections of the church.
The nave has six sections of arches on the south side. These arches are supported by columns called Doric columns, which are decorated with lion masks. In front of the sanctuary, the sacred area around the altar, there's a pointed arch. You'll also see a stone screen behind the altar, called a reredos. The beautiful east window was designed by C.E. Kempe and put in place in 1879. It shows three important scenes: the Crucifixion (Jesus on the cross), the Resurrection (Jesus coming back to life), and the Ascension (Jesus going up to heaven). On the west wall, you can see the coat of arms of George I of Great Britain, a symbol of the king who ruled when the church was rebuilt.
The Church Organ
The very first organ in St. Giles' Church was put in the West Gallery in 1792. The organ you hear today was installed in 1894 by a company called JJ Binns from Leeds. It was given a refresh in 1954 and then completely rebuilt in 2003, making sure it sounds wonderful for services and concerts.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in West Yorkshire
- Listed buildings in Pontefract
