St Peter's Church, Huddersfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church
Huddersfield Parish Church
53°38′50″N 1°46′51″W / 53.6472°N 1.7809°W / 53.6472; -1.7809
Location	Huddersfield, Kirklees
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	Anglo-Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	3 March 1952
Architect(s)	James Pigott Pritchett
Style	Gothic revival
Completed	27 October 1836
Construction cost	£10,000
Administration
Deanery	Huddersfield
Archdeaconry	Archdeaconry of Halifax
Episcopal area	Huddersfield Episcopal Area
Diocese	Diocese of Leeds
Province	Province of York

St Peter's Church, also known as Huddersfield Parish Church, is a Church of England parish church in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. There has been a church on the site since the 11th century, but the current building dates from 1836. It is situated on the Kirkgate near Southgate in the centre of the town. It is a Grade II* listed building.

History

In legend, the first church on the site was built in the eleventh century by Walter de Lacy, the second son of Ilbert de Lacy. Walter decided to build the church after he survived being thrown from his horse and landing in a swamp.

The church was rebuilt in the sixteenth century. From 1759 to 1771, Henry Venn was vicar at the church.

By the early 19th century the town of Huddersfield was growing rapidly as a result of the industrial revolution and the parish church was too small to cope. In order to address this, Holy Trinity Church was opened in 1819 as a chapel of ease within the parish of St Peter's, before becoming a parish church in its own right in 1857.

By the 1830s the 16th-century parish church needed urgent repairs, and it was therefore decided to rebuild it again, so the congregation constructed the current church. The architect for the church was James Pigott Pritchett and construction was carried out from 1834 to 1836. To keep costs down during construction the bricks used were from the previous church on the site, this meant that repairs were needed overcome the deficient materials.

In 1851, two vestries were added at the eastern and northern ends of the church. In 1852, windows designed by Thomas Willement were installed in the church. In 1866, it was realised that the stonework of the church needed repairing. In 1873, new pews and a pulpit were installed. In 1879, a choir vestry was added. In 1908 an organ was installed by local builder Conacher and Co. It was restored in 1984 by Philip Wood of Huddersfield.

From 1921 to 1923, the sanctuary was reordered. A baldachin and the east window, designed by Ninian Comper, as part of a war memorial was also installed in the church. In the 1940s, the south transept was redesigned with a screen by Robert Thompson being added. In the 1980s, a new altar and dais were also installed. Around 2012, the roof, ceiling and tower were repaired. Other essential repairs were also made, helped by a grant from English Heritage.

On 17 February 2017, the church was the location of the funeral of Gorden Kaye, the Huddersfield-born television actor and star of 'Allo 'Allo!.

Parish

On weekdays, the church is open from 9:00am until 4:00pm and on Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. On Sundays, there is a Book of Common Prayer communion service at 8:00am, a parish communion service at 10:00am and evensong at 3:00pm.

Gallery

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  The church in 1904

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  Interior in 1906