Church Of St Matthias

LEEDS

SE2734 ST MATTHIAS' STREET, Burley 714-1/28/1289 (East side) 05/08/76 Church of St Matthias

GV II*

Anglican church. 1854, N aisle and W porch added 1886. By Perkin and Backhouse; Thomas Moxon of Headingley, builder; woodwork and carvings by Messrs Winn and Pawson. Coursed squared gritstone and ashlar, slate roof. Gothic Revival style. PLAN: nave, chancel, N and S transepts, N aisle, S tower. EXTERIOR: large geometrical traceried windows in W end and transepts. Low N aisle with 3 gables over windows. S tower in nave/transept angle, angle buttresses with gabled heads, geometrical traceried belfry opening and stone broach spire, slightly projecting gabled portal at base. INTERIOR: nave of 5 bays, 2-bay chancel with arch-braced roof, boarded panels painted with shields and gilded; screen at S side tower base, carved and glazed oak doors, traceried infill above; 8-light E window has stained-glass figures of saints, the reredos of carved stone has shallow traceried arches with angels, scrolls, quatrefoils, painted; Caen stone panels with vines and branches, alabaster chancel wall erected 1893. FITTINGS: pulpit designed by JL Pearson RA, 1892: alabaster on polished marble base, theme of Old Testament preachers, in memory of John Smith. Octagonal font of Caen stone, gift of Charles Gascoine Maclea of Leeds; fine angel lectern 1913. MEMORIALS: on W wall of S transept: relief of female figure and angel in Gothic frame with crocketed pinnacles, commemorates Anne Catherine Jane, wife of John Smith Esq of Burley House, banker, d.1854; inscribed with maker's name: 'SPENCE FT. ROME'. The cost of the church was born by John Smith, the banker, William Beckett paid for the steeple. The foundation stone was laid 1853 and the builder was Thomas Moxon of Headingley, woodwork and carvings by Messrs. Winn and Pawson. The additions and alterations in 1886 increased the seating capacity from 450 to 650, a response to the increased population of the area following sale of land by the Earl of Cardigan and construction of streets to S and W. (Aitken, Revd LR: The story of Burley Parish Church, 1854-1954 (leaflet)).

Listing NGR: SE2781334599