Description

714-1/54/604 WOOD LANE
23-SEP-63 CHAPEL ALLERTON
(West side)
Church of St Matthew

GV II*

Anglican church. 1897-98. By G F Bodley. Bath stone and Ancaster stone ashlar, tile roof. Built by Stephens and Baslow of Bristol. Glass by Burlison and Grylls.
PLAN: nave of 6 bays, chancel and aisles under one roof without clerestory, large detached tower on S of S aisle connected by passage and serving as porch. Gothic Revival style.
EXTERIOR: traceried windows, narrow buttresses and crenellated tower with central staircase turret and belfry stage with clock, shields in relief and gargoyles.
INTERIOR: C14-style ribbed quatrefoil columns and chamfered arches; the 3-light windows are set in recesses with quatrefoils and cusped panels below; nave ceiling is tunnel-vaulted in wood, in the aisles timber trusses on alternate stone corbels and wooden brackets, painted with badges and chevrons. The floor is stone-flagged with wood to pew area. Organ loft at mezzanine level at east end of north aisle. A fine carved screen with organ gallery separates nave and chancel. The chancel ceiling is ribbed and panelled, painted blue with 'IHS'. Sanctuary floor black and white marble, the walls panelled, the reredos of carved and gilded wood has figures of Christ in Glory, the Annunciation and saints all under traceried canopies.
The choir and clergy vestries lie north of the chancel. To the south the Lady Chapel sanctuary has a white marble floor and fine triptych reredos with central figure of Christ flanked by painted figures of female saints: Mary Bethany, Monica, Martha, Agnes. Chapel floor stone with wood in seating areas. Plain panelling with linenfold and quatrefoil details to pews, choir stalls, pulpit. Plaques in choir and chancel commemorate John Primalt Maud, perpetual curate of Chapel Allerton 1890-1904, the period of building, and the laying of the foundation stone 18.10.1897 and consecration 03.02.1900.
At the W end the font is C17, a gritstone cylindrical shaft with scroll decoration in relief, octagonal bowl with raised lettering: 'THER:IS/ONE.LORD/ONE:FA/ITH.ONE/ BAPTI/SME'EPH/ ESIANS/ X.5.1637 '; the letters 'H' are turned through 90 degrees.
This church was built on a new site to replace the much smaller church in the Old Graveyard. It demonstrates the architect's principal that the history of architectural art was one of refinement, a true artistic feeling denoting restrained power.
(Linstrum 1978). Linstrum, D: West Yorkshire Architects and Architecture: London: 1978-: 232; Building News, Vol 76: 1899-: 6; Building News, Vol 80: 1901-: 661, 676-677).

Listing NGR: SE3030237373

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Church of St Matthew at Wikipedia
• Church of St Matthew official website
• Wikidata Q17533512

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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