The second chapel of St. Matthew at Lightcliffe was built in 1775. It contained an organ by John Snetzler (who also built an organ for Halifax Parish Church in 1766). Unfortunately this instrument was lost to vandalism and the demolishing of the church in 1971.
In 2003, after several years of discussion and many changes of ideas the decision was taken to ‘re-order’ the west end of the church by adding a building and breaking through underneath the west window. The first sod was symbolically cut and the foundation stone laid by our visitors from Nyamatare.
The Nave is 71' long by 22'6" wide and the aisles 10' 9" wide. The roof at its apex is The Tower is 80' with a turret of a further 8' and a flag staff of 10'.
Formal church worship according to the Anglican tradition began in Lightcliffe in the year 1529. A chapel was built, one of the twelve outlying centres within the ancient parish of Halifax, and a curate was appointed.
History