Description

BRIGHOUSE WAKEFIELD ROAD, LIGHTCLIFFE
SE 12 NW (south side)

1/193 Church of St. Matthew

G.V. II

Church. 1874 by W. Swindon Barber for Major Foster. Hammer-dressed stone,
ashlar dressings, slate roof. Gothic Revival. Nave, chancel with lateral
chapel, north-west tower, low side aisles, baptistry and vestry. Tower of 4
stages with diagonal buttresses to the east with much batter. Tall octagonal
clasping turret to the north rises a full stage higher. North doorway with
2-centred arch in base of tower over which is carved statue of patron saint in
niche which has clock in 3rd stage. Tall 4-light belfry with decorative
hoodmould. Embattled parapet. Angle buttresses to west embrace gabled west end
of nave which has impressive window with panelled tracery with hoodmould forming
ogee. Angle buttress is surmounted by crocketed pinnacle. 4 bay nave,
divisions marked by offset buttresses. Embattled parapet, square headed
clerestorey windows 4-centred arched aisle windows both with panel tracery.
Embattled gable between nave and chancel which is under lower roof with 2 tall
arched windows in the flank walls and large east window with panel tracery of
late C14 style. Diagonal offset buttresses and embattled gable. Baptistry is
gabled and runs out of 1st bay of south nave aisle with coped gable, angle
buttresses and arch-headed window. Vestry breaks out of 1st bay of chancel is
similarly treated.

Interior: Octagonal columns with moulded capitals to nave arcade. Coupled
colonnettes to tall pointed chancel arch. Heavily timbered 10 bay arch-braced
roof with alternate ogee to arch, brattished collar supports short king post
with fretted roundels to either side. Carved reredos of Caen stone, with scene
of Last Supper (by J. Birnie Philip) flanked by inscribed tablets with the
Creed, the Law and Lords Prayer, carved stone piscina and sedila. Small oak
screen to chapel with monuments to Major Foster's family, marble altar of
classical design.

Furnishings: Fine brass lectern with Gothic base, and altar rails. Richly
carved choir-stalls in Perpendicular style. Elaborate carved octagonal font
with tall font cover by James Clinsty (Huddersfield). Similarly carved Caen
stone pulpit. Coved screen to west end commemorates 1st World War victims.
Small Royal Arms from Lightcliffe Old Church of Queen Victoria c.1840
incorporate Escutcheon of Saxony, (an unusual if not unique feature).

Listing NGR: SE1366425418

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26684143

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  For the Record