Church Of St Matthew

The Church of St Matthew is an Anglican church dating from 1897-98, designed by G F Bodley and constructed by Stephens and Baslow of Bristol. The glasswork is by Burlison and Grylls. It was built on a new site to replace a much smaller church in the Old Graveyard. The church is constructed of Bath stone and Ancaster stone ashlar, with a tile roof. The architectural style is Gothic Revival.

The church has a nave of six bays, a chancel, and aisles unified under a single roof without a clerestory. A large, detached tower is located on the south side of the south aisle, connected by a passage and serving as a porch. The exterior features traceried windows, narrow buttresses, and a crenellated tower with a central staircase turret and a belfry stage with a clock. There are also shields in relief and gargoyles.

Inside, the church showcases C14-style ribbed quatrefoil columns and chamfered arches. The three-light windows are recessed and feature quatrefoils and cusped panels below. The nave ceiling is tunnel-vaulted in wood, while the aisles have timber trusses on alternate stone corbels and wooden brackets, painted with badges and chevrons. The floor is stone-flagged, with wood flooring in the pew area. An organ loft is positioned at mezzanine level at the east end of the north aisle. A carved screen with an organ gallery separates the nave and chancel. The chancel ceiling is ribbed and panelled, painted blue with 'IHS'. The sanctuary floor is black and white marble, with panelled walls. The reredos is constructed of carved and gilded wood, depicting Christ in Glory, the Annunciation, and saints, all under traceried canopies.

North of the chancel are the choir and clergy vestries. The Lady Chapel sanctuary to the south has a white marble floor and a fine triptych reredos with a central figure of Christ flanked by painted figures of female saints: Mary Bethany, Monica, Martha, and Agnes. The chapel floor is stone with wood in the seating areas. The pews, choir stalls, and pulpit feature plain panelling with linenfold and quatrefoil details. Plaques in the choir and chancel commemorate John Primalt Maud, perpetual curate of Chapel Allerton from 1890-1904, the period of building, and the laying of the foundation stone on 18.10.1897 and consecration on 03.02.1900.

At the west end, the font is dated to the 17th century and is made of gritstone, featuring a cylindrical shaft with scroll relief decoration and an octagonal bowl with raised lettering: 'THER:IS/ONE.LORD/ONE:FA/ITH.ONE/ BAPTI/SME/ ESIANS/ X.5.1637'; the letters 'H' are turned through 90 degrees. The church demonstrates the architect's principle that the history of architectural art was one of refinement, showcasing a true artistic feeling denoting restrained power.