St Bartholomew's Church, Armley is a parish church in the Church of England in Armley, West Yorkshire. The church is one of two Church of England churches in Armley; the other being Christ Church. Worship at St Bartholomew's is firmly rooted in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of the Church of England with a solemn mass being celebrated weekly.
History
The first chapel at Armley was built in 1630 but not consecrated by Richard Sterne, Archbishop of York, until 1674. In 1737 it was extended to the north, the roof was raised and a small balcony was added at the west end.
In 1825 the chapel was much enlarged through the benevolence of Benjamin Gott, a local industrial businessman with woollen mills in Leeds.
A new church was built starting in 1872 to designs by the architects Henry Walker and Joseph Althron of Leeds, and is now a Grade II* listed building. It was consecrated in 1877 but the tower was not dedicated until 1904. The church is constructed of Horsforth sandstone. The old chapel was demolished in 1909.
List of vicars
George Metcalfe, 1766–91 Richard Fawcett, 1791–1815 Thomas Barber, 1815–22 Charles Clapham, 1822–48The Gentleman's Magazine (London, England), Volume 184, p.326See also references to him as incumbent of Armley in 1828,Pigot and co.'s national commercial directory for 1828-9, comprising a directory of the merchants, bankers, professional gentleman [&c.] in the counties of Cheshire, Cumberland. Reference to Rev Charles Clapham and 1842.The Freemasons' quarterly review 1842, reference to Rev Charles Clapham David Hartley Frederick George Hume Smith, 1877–1906 James Buchanan Seaton 1906–09 (later Bishop of Wakefield, 1928–38) Ralph Creed Meredith 1914–17 (later Vicar of St John the Baptist Church, Windsor, 1940–58, and Chaplain to George VI and Elizabeth II, 1946–52) Lovell Clarke 1923–33 (previously Vicar of All Saints' Church, Nottingham and subsequently Archdeacon of Leeds) William Johnston 1949–56 (later Archdeacon of Bradford and then Bishop of Dunwich)Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1973–74, 85th Edition, p 508. Norman Ernest (Norry) McCurry 1963–73 Owen Conway, 1973–81 Nicholas Plant, 1982–92 Timothy Lipscomb, 1992–2005 Ian Wright, 2006–14 Michael Wood, 2016–2022
Features The Caen stone reredos erected in 1877 has alabaster carvings, representing the Magi, crucifixion and Old Testament figures. John Wormald Appleyard was present at the consecration on 24 August 1877, listed alongside the architects Henry Walker and Joseph Athron who designed the building and reredos. Since no other stone carver is credited for this work, it is reasonable to suppose that it could be the work of Appleyard.
The pulpit is of alabaster and marble, designed by architect Thomas Armfield after the pulpit at the shrine of Sebaldus in St. Sebaldus Church, Nuremberg. It was carved originally by Mawer and Ingle for the former St Bartholomew's Church, on the occasion of its 1861 restoration, then moved along with the font and the old tomb memorials to the new building after the consecration.
There is a sculpture by Joseph Gott at the west end of the north aisle, a memorial to Benjamin Gott of Armley House who died in 1839. In the south aisle there is Faith comforting the Mourner, commemorating the two sons of Benjamin and Elizabeth Gott who died in Paris and Athens. Benjamin Gott's son William Gott was interred in the family vault in the former St Bartholomew's Church.
Organ
The church is perhaps best known for its organ. It was built by the German builder Edmund Schulze.The organ: a guide to its construction, history, usage and music. David Baker, Osprey Publishing, 2003 It was originally installed in Meanwood Towers in 1869. In 1877 it was inaugurated in St. Peter's Church, Harrogate. Following a dispute with the vicar, the organ was installed in St. Bartholomew's in 1879. It was rebuilt in 1905 by James Jepson Binns and other restoration work took place in 1956 by Hill, Norman and Beard, 1974 by John T. Jackson and Son and 2004 by Harrison & Harrison.
The organ has been awarded a Grade II* listing by the British Institute of Organ Studies for organs which are good representatives of the work of their builder, in substantially original condition.
A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.National Pipe organ Register
Organists
1862–1868: John Varley RobertsDictionary of Organs and Organists. Frederick W. Thornsby (afterwards organist of Halifax Parish Church) 1878–1921: Thomas Cawthra 1921–1924: Thomas E Pearson (afterwards organist of Halifax Parish Church) 1924–1937: Herbert Bardgett (afterwards chorusmaster of Nottingham Harmonic Society) 1937–1938: John B Dalby (afterwards organist of St Machar's Cathedral Aberdeen) 1938–1939: Donald H Martin 1939–1940: Eric Whiteside 1940–1953: W Iles Pulford 1953–1955: Alan A Tranah 1955–1962: John J F Watkins 1962–1966: John Snow 1966–1973: Anthony Norcliffe (later organist of St Chad's Church, Far Headingley and Mill Hill Chapel) 1973–1986: Arnold Mahon 1986–present: Graham Barber
See also Listed buildings in Leeds (Armley Ward)
References