Church Of St Matthew

The Church of St Matthew, built around 1796, is a Grade II* listed building located on Church Street in Rastrick. Constructed from ashlar stone with rusticated detailing at the sill band and topped with a slate roof, the church features an auditorium and a west tower. The nave facade consists of five bays, with a sill band running beneath the windows and again at the clerestorey level, which is adorned with a modillion cornice that extends around the tower. The outer bays contain doorways framed by architraves and cornices supported on consoles, with blank tablets positioned above each door. The three central bays feature windows set in blind arches, with clerestorey windows in the form of lunettes above.

The east end of the church has three bays and a semi-circular apse, which includes a Venetian window topped by a blind tablet. The south nave facade mirrors the window arrangements of the north but employs a simpler design and is made of hammer-dressed stone. The tower is highlighted by an arch-headed staircase window within a blind arch. Above the cornice, a low pedimented stage supports a clock, which is topped by a circular cupola featuring Doric columns, an entablature, and a dome, finished with a decorative weathervane.

Inside, the church has a plain rectangular flat ceiling with a sanctuary in the semi-circular apse, and a modillioned cornice. Raking galleries are present on three sides, supported by wooden Tuscan columns. The east window is a Venetian design with freestanding columns featuring acanthus capitals. Most of the windows contain Victorian stained glass, except those illuminating the gallery. The staircase at the base of the tower is adorned with wrought iron balustrading.

Furnishings include Victorian pews and choir stalls, along with a high pulpit that likely dates from the 18th century but is in a Victorian style. The sanctuary is similarly panelled and features paintings of Christ, Prophets, and Apostles. An octagonal Gothic Revival font is also present. The galleries retain their original box pews, except at the west end. Monuments located at the west end include a Greek Revival tablet dedicated to John Armitage, featuring figures and crafted by Waudby and Sons of Hull and Huddersfield.