Church Of All Saints

Church of All Saints, Dewsbury

This is a parish church with a complex building history spanning from the medieval period to the late 19th century. The north arcade dates from around 1220, while the south arcade was built in the later 13th century but rebuilt in 1895. The nave ceiling is 15th century. The tower and probably the north aisle were constructed in 1767, likely designed by John Carr. The transepts, chancel, chapels, vestries, and probably the south aisle and clerestory windows were added or rebuilt between 1884 and 1887 in Decorated style by A. E. Street and A. H. Kirk. Extensive internal alterations were carried out around 1976.

The church is constructed of ashlar with a stone slate roof to the nave and hipped north aisle. Other roofs are leaded with very low pitch. The building features ashlar parapets. The plan comprises a west tower, a 4-bay nave with north and south aisles, and a large chancel with large transepts to north and south. Large chancel chapels flank the chancel, each with its own porch. A vestry occupies the north east corner.

The square tower rises in three tiers with string courses and pilaster strips. The crenellated top with eight crocketed pinnacles is 19th century. The bell chamber has 2-light round-arched openings. The middle tier contains pointed-arched windows with round-arched lights. North and west doorways, with the former being blind, feature pilaster jambs and ogee heads surmounted by a concave triangular pediment.

The large round-arched north aisle windows are six-light with transom, the lower tier lights being round-arched. South aisle windows are 3-light with Perpendicular and Decorated tracery. The 3-light clerestory windows continue this Decorated vocabulary. The north and south transepts each have two large windows with Decorated tracery, with reticulated tracery to the north. All windows to the chancel and chapels have Decorated tracery. The large east window contains seven lights with reticulated tracery and two circles. The south side of the chancel features a slender 6-light transomed and traceried window, while the north chapel has a large 5-light window with cambered head and reticulated tracery.

Interior

The nave has 4-bay arcades to each side. The south arcade is carried on quatrefoil piers, while the north arcade has piers surrounded by four detached colonnettes connected by annulets. Both arcades are spanned by double chamfered arches. The nave ceiling is panelled with bosses.

An excellent carved oak reredos from 1913 depicts Christ with the twelve apostles, flanked by twelve early saints and monarchs. During recent alterations, this was moved from the chancel where it originally stood. The west end of the north aisle contains various fragments of Anglo-Saxon crosses, coffin lids, and several 17th-century grave slabs.

The north wall displays several memorials, including one to John Turner from 1758 with an elaborate gabled canopy. A fine alabaster cartouche with two cherubs, scrolls and flowers commemorates Marmaduke Rookes (died 1724) and Jane his wife (died 1721). Another similar excellent alabaster cartouche honours Johannes and Elizabeth Peables of Dewsbury, who died 1684 and 1681 respectively. Several mid-19th-century memorials to members of the Nowell family are also present.

The font is probably 17th century, with a tulip-bowl divided into eight panels, a decorative cornice, and a chamfered underside with patterns. It stands on an octagonal pedestal.

The south chapel remains in its original function, but the rest of the east end of the church has been altered with modern accommodation using concrete blockwork, though the original church structure has been left visible and intact. Large stone arches mark the crossing and wooden arches on wooden piers support the transepts. Arched traceried stone screens formerly separated the chancel from the chapels.

The church contains good stained glass generally in the chancel, chapels and transepts. The east window dates from 1884. The north transept window contains fragments of 14th-century glass, as well as three 13th-century medallions representing harvesting, threshing and pig killing.