Church Of St Matthias

The Church of St Matthias is an Anglican church dating from 1854, with a north aisle and west porch added in 1886. It was designed by Perkin and Backhouse, built by Thomas Moxon of Headingley, with woodwork and carvings by Messrs Winn and Pawson. The church is constructed of coursed squared gritstone and ashlar, with a slate roof. It is built in the Gothic Revival style.

The plan consists of a nave, chancel, north and south transepts, a north aisle, and a south tower. The exterior features large, geometrically traceried windows in the west end and transepts. The low north aisle has three gables over the windows. The south tower is situated in the nave/transept angle, with angle buttresses having gabled heads, a geometrically traceried belfry opening, and a stone broach spire. A slightly projecting gabled portal is at the base of the tower.

Inside, the nave has five bays. The two-bay chancel has an arch-braced roof with boarded panels painted with shields and gilded. A screen is located at the south side of the tower base, with carved and glazed oak doors and traceried infill above. The eight-light east window contains stained-glass figures of saints. The reredos is of carved stone with shallow traceried arches, angels, scrolls, quatrefoils, and painted Caen stone panels depicting vines and branches. An alabaster chancel wall was erected in 1893.

The pulpit was designed by JL Pearson RA in 1892, made of alabaster on a polished marble base, and features a theme of Old Testament preachers, in memory of John Smith. The octagonal font is made of Caen stone and was a gift from Charles Gascoine Maclea of Leeds. A fine angel lectern dates from 1913.

A memorial on the west wall of the south transept depicts a relief of a female figure and angel within a Gothic frame with crocketed pinnacles. This commemorates Anne Catherine Jane, wife of John Smith, banker of Burley House, who died in 1854. The memorial is inscribed with the maker's name: ‘SPENCE FT. ROME’.

The church was funded by John Smith, the banker, and William Beckett paid for the steeple. The foundation stone was laid in 1853. The 1886 additions and alterations increased the seating capacity from 450 to 650, reflecting the increased population after the Earl of Cardigan sold land and streets were constructed to the south and west.