St Margaret of Antioch Church, Leeds facts for kids
The former St Margaret of Antioch's Church building is located on Cardigan Road in Headingley, West Yorkshire, England. It's close to Burley Park railway station. This building is a great example of Late Gothic Revival church architecture, which was a popular style that looked back to medieval designs. It was built in the early 1900s and officially opened in 1909.
The church was built in the Burley area to serve the many new homes being built there during the late Victorian period, as the city of Leeds grew. While it was an Anglican church, it had an Anglo-Catholic style of worship. Today, it's a very important building, listed as Grade II* for its special historical and architectural value. It was designed by a famous architect named Temple Moore. After being empty for a while, a group of local Christians saved it. They turned it into a lively arts and creative space called Left Bank Leeds.
Contents
Building a Special Place
Early Days and Fundraising
The very first church on this spot wasn't a grand building. It was a temporary iron structure put up to serve the new families moving into the area. The first vicar, Rev A.H Kelk, arrived in 1897.
This iron church was opened in March 1898. For years, it served as the main church, a Sunday school room, and a place for community events. It got very hot in summer! Right from the start, people talked about raising money for a permanent, proper church building.
In January 1899, the church started a monthly magazine to help raise funds. About 800 people subscribed. The community decided they needed a separate Sunday school building first. This was finished by Easter 1900, just in time for their Easter tea party.
Over the next few years, there were big efforts to raise money for the main church. This included special sales held at Leeds Town Hall, asking for donations door-to-door, and reaching out to local businesses and other churches.
Designing the Church with Temple Moore
Enough money was raised, and the architect Temple Moore was hired in 1901. The first stone for the new church was laid on October 26, 1907. The first part of the building was finished in 1908, and it was officially opened in 1909. The first wedding in the new church happened on Easter Monday in 1909.
The church is seen as a wonderful example of the Late Gothic Revival style and of Temple Moore's skill. This is why it was given its Grade II* listed building status. Temple Moore had also planned a house for the vicar and a First World War memorial, but these were never built.
Life at St Margaret's
Parish Life and Changes
The front part of the church was never fully completed to Moore's original grand design, which included a huge tower.
In 1911, St Margaret's became its own separate church area.
Life at the church continued with many activities. There were Sunday services, baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Groups like the men's society, confirmation classes, and a musical society met there. There were also sales, Mothers Union meetings, and Whitsun parades. Groups for children and teachers were active, and there was an annual trip, usually around St Margaret of Antioch's feast day on July 20.
In 1920, the new vicar, Rev B. Combe, wrote in the church magazine about how proud people were of St Margaret's. He said he saw new beauty in the building every week and heard people call it "the finest Church in Leeds."
In 1959, a special fund was started to finish the church building. Temple Moore's original plans were too fancy and expensive. So, architect George Pace from York, who admired Moore's work, designed the current front of the church. This was completed in 1963. Sir John Betjeman, a famous writer, knew and loved the building, especially its inside.
Over time, the local area changed, and fewer people attended the church. There were ideas to join with other nearby churches, but these plans didn't happen.
From the 1940s to the 1960s, the church also welcomed different Orthodox Christian groups. It even rented a local house for Belgian refugees during the First World War. Until the 1970s, the church kept its traditional Anglo-Catholic services.
However, the number of people attending church slowly went down. By the mid-1990s, only a few people were left.
A New Beginning: Left Bank Leeds
From Church to Community Hub
The church was officially closed for worship in March 1995. The remaining church members joined the nearby All Hallows parish, and their church was renamed St Margaret's and All Hallows. In 2001, the St Margaret's building was bought by a group of local Christians. They wanted to save the building from falling apart.
The building was used sometimes for special events, but damage to the roof and a lot of pigeons made it unsafe. English Heritage helped pay for important repairs because the building was on a list of historic buildings at risk.
A group was formed to figure out how to use the building again. Slowly, a new idea came to life. The building is now a multi-purpose arts venue called Left Bank Leeds. Its goal is to protect this amazing place and use it to inspire and help the community. They do this through a regular program of arts and events that encourage creativity, connection, and well-being.
Left Bank Leeds hosts many different events, including art shows, music concerts, festivals, cinema nights, and talks. They also offer afternoon teas and are open to the public as a co-working space. The Guardian newspaper even mentioned it in their guide to Leeds for its arts program. The building is open to everyone and can also be rented for public events and private parties.
Inside the Building: Special Features
Even though the building has changed, some of its original features are still there:
- A First World War memorial, which was officially opened on February 12, 1923. It has been moved to a different corner of the building.
- The beautiful Stained glass window at the east end.
- Various plaques on the walls.
- The choir stalls, which are special seats for the choir, designed by Leslie Moore.
- The high altar, which is the main table used for services, was set up in its current form in 1950.
See also
- List of new churches by Temple Moore
- List of works by George Pace
