Church Of St Helen

DENTON MAIN STREET SE 14 NW (north side) 9/33 Church of St Helen 22.11.66 GV II*

Church. 1776. By John Carr for the Ibbetson family of Denton Hall. Coursed squared gritstone, grey slate roof. 3-bay nave and chancel with an integral west tower and a possibly additional single-storey west porch, in Gothick style. Plinth. The porch has pointed double doors on the south side, a finialed hoodmould and eaves cornice with pedimented blocking course above. Nave: 3 pointed windows, the central one with original interlaced glazing bars. Continuous hoodmould, eaves band, gable coping. Nave left return: porch flanked by small arched windows with interlaced glazing bars; the tower west wall breaks forward slightly and there is a window of 3 trefoil-headed lights with hoodmould to first floor. The tower lower stage has large quatrefoil recesses; the upper stage is an open octagonal embattled belfry with pointed arches to each side. Nave, east end: Venetian style window with large pointed-arched centre light flanked by lower narrow round-arched lights. The architrave has classical mouldings and the continuous hoodmould of the south side is carried above the flanking lights. A projecting band at eaves level forms a pediment to the gable. North side: 2 blind pointed-arched windows; entrance to crypt covered by a lean-to roof, centre; taller lean-to addition left, with square 4-pane sash in left return. Interior: inner door between porch and nave has 3 tiers of 3 trefoil-headed panels and opens into a vestibule beneath the west gallery, with 6 panel doors to left and right. The left door opens onto a stone spiral staircase, the right into a small vestry. Nave, east end: 2 stone steps to the sanctuary with fine carved oak pulpit and priest's stall given in 1908. The east window has painted glass depicting King David and St Cecilia with angels and musical instruments and is signed "Henric' Giles Ebora' pinxit 1700". The flanking lights contain heraldic emblems and coats of arms. West gallery: supported and framed by a tall round-headed arch; the: balustrade of double vase balusters. The shallow-pitched nave roof supported by 5 king-post trusses with splayed struts form the base of the king, post. Font: south-west corner of nave; a splayed fluted shaft with a shallow octagonal bowl decorated with gadrooning, the lid a later addition. Wail memorials of the C18 and early C19 to the Ibbetson family of Denton Park. A grave stone-fastened to the outside of the north wall of the porch has the remains of an inscription commemorating Frances, wife of Henry Lord Fairfax who died in 1683.

Listing NGR: SE1448848918