| Description | Commissioners' church, by Pickersgill and Oates (York), built c.1833 with additions and alterations 1874 to 1876 by R. Norman Shaw. At this date the north and south galleries and the ceiling were removed. The church is constructed of ashlar, with a slate roof. West tower, nave, south porch and chancel. Lancet style. 3 stage embattled tower has angle buttresses which rises to form pinnacles. Doorway in first stage. Single light window with clock face over to second. Single light belfry window to third stage. 5 bay nave, with angle buttresses rising to form pinnacles and offset buttresses between each bay which has tall pointed arched windows with
hoodmould. Parapet. Porch in first bay has angle buttresses, pinnacles and parapeted gable with pointed arched doorway. Chancel (1876) of 2 bays with single storey side aisles with 3 light arched windows with hoodmould, parapet with trefoil, gothic capping. Chancel has 2 light arched clerestorey windows with quatrefoil over under arched hoodmould. 3 light lancet east window.
Interior: Wide bare nave without aisles, queen post roof. Tall pointed chancel arch with to either side smaller arches to aisles. That to south forms memorial chapel to George Sowden, Honorary Canon of Wakefield and Vicar of the church for 37 years who died 1899. Arcade to either side of chancel. Furnishings: Carved reredos by Alfonso Noflaner c.1934 to celebrate the centenary. All windows have stained glass illustrating the life of Christ mostly dating from the 1870s, all by Heaton, Butler and Bayne. Stone carved pulpit is carried on marble columns. The rear gallery has been boxed in c.1983 to form enclosed vestibule and meeting'room. (Sources: N. Pevsner, Yorkshire West Riding (1967), p.260)
(Text edited from English Heritage's National Heritage List of England, 1984). |