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'.
A general description
The site chosen by Major Foster for his new church proved an admirable one. Two hundred yards from the old chapel on the opposite side of the road from Halifax to Wakefield, then a turnpike road, the one-and-a-half acre site is still well wooded and surrounded by a low wall, although now without the railings. The architect chosen by Major Foster, Mr. W. Swindon Barber, was already well known for a number of buildings erected under his supervision. The perpendicular gothic design of his church at Lightcliffe was regarded by many at the time as one of the most beautiful in the parish of Halifax and for many miles around.
Below is a brief description of the church taken from "The Halifax Guardian", Saturday, September 18th, 1875
"The ground plan embraces Nave with side aisles, Chancel with lateral chapels, and tower at the north west angle of the Nave... Entering the church by the tower, a doorway opening eastwards into the north aisle. The Nave roof is heavily timbered. Opening from the second bay of the south aisle is the baptistry The great west window is a six light one... In beauty of design and brilliance of colour no window in the neighbourhood can surpass this. It is Indeed a noble specimen of the glass stainer's art. The clerestory forms a leading feature to the interior of this lovely church, and is unmatched in Halifax parish. It will be long before a more complete clerestory is raised in England
"Three steps lead into the Chancel. Two rows of richly carved choir stalls with a priest's stall on the south side occupy the first level Another step leads to the sacrarium which further eastwards is raised three steps more to the Altar footpace The communion rails and gas standards form one beautiful composition, all in richly wrought brass work .
"An exterior view of this noble church cannot fail to gratify all lovers of church architecture. Situated as it is among good timber the tower and fine range of clerestory windows show well above the trees. The site is surrounded by a low wall surmounted by low iron railings. The gates are hung in two octagonal posts.
The principal entrance to the tower is deeply moulded ... Over this is a niche ... having a fine figure of St. Matthew in it. Next above is a square window filled in with quatrefoil work lighting the ringing chamber. Over this is the clock, each of the four faces being gilded and a blazing sun in the centre. The belfry windows are above. This is a fine stage, the windows being two lights deeply recessed. The louvres are in Welsh slate with which material all the roofs are covered in.
The body of the church viewed from this north side is very beautiful, the composition being characteristic of the style chosen. The organ chapel gives two coupled two light windows with rich head tracery and above them is a niche for a statue of St. Cecilia. The view from the south side is equally beautiful, the windows to the baptistery and Foster chapel forming a break in the general line of two light windows. Beneath the chapel is a family vault approached by a wide flight of stairs. A door nearby leads into the church. The side windows to the Chancel are very effective, all the gables are finished in crosses in every case more or less floriated. All the corbels to the hood moulds of the windows are carved ... and we are happy to see that this branch of work can be so artistically rendered. For character and expression there are few carvings that excel these. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 February 2006 )
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