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St Matthew's Church, Chapel Allerton
St Matthew, Chapel Allerton (4697617898).jpg
St Matthew's Church
53°49′54″N 1°32′28″W / 53.831764°N 1.541022°W / 53.831764; -1.541022
Denomination Church of England
Churchmanship Broad Church
History
Dedication St Matthew
Administration
Parish Chapel Allerton, Leeds
Diocese Leeds
Province York

St Matthew's Church is a beautiful Church of England church located in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, England. A famous expert once called it a "noble and spacious building" with a "bold, sturdy tower." This means it's a grand and roomy church with a strong, impressive tower. Since 1963, the church has been a Grade II* listed building. This special listing means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected.

Where is St Matthew's Church?

The church is easy to find on Wood Lane in Chapel Allerton. Chapel Allerton is a lively area in the city of Leeds.

The History of the Church

Old St Matthew Chapel Allerton 004
The old St. Matthew's Church in 1911, after the new one was built. It was used for meetings before being taken down in 1935.

The current St Matthew's Church was built a long time ago, between 1897 and 1898. It was designed by a well-known architect named George Frederick Bodley. This new church replaced an older, smaller church that used to stand in its place. The building work was done by Stephens and Baslow from Bristol. The beautiful stained-glass windows were made by Burlison and Grylls. The older church eventually became very old and worn out. It was taken down in 1935.

What the Church Looks Like

St Matthew's Church has a special look, both inside and out.

Outside the Church

The church is built from two types of stone: Bath stone and Ancaster stone. These are both strong, light-colored stones. The church has narrow supports called buttresses. These help to hold up the walls. It also has a tower with a clock and a top edge that looks like castle walls, called crenellated.

Inside the Church

St Matthew's Chapel Allerton Interior 9 Sep 2017
Inside St Matthew's Church in 2017.

Inside, the church has windows with three sections. These windows are set into deep spaces with decorative shapes called quatrefoils. The floor is made of stone slabs. The main part of the church, called the nave, has a wooden ceiling that looks like the inside of a tunnel. There is also an organ, which is a large musical instrument, located on a raised level at the front of the north side of the church. The reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar, is made of carved and gilded wood. This means it's made of wood that has been shaped and covered in a thin layer of gold.

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