St Matthew's Church

St Matthew’s Church is a Neo-Perpendicular style church with Arts & Crafts elements, dating to the 19th century. It is constructed of ashlar with a Westmorland slate roof covered with red ridge tiles, and incorporates distinctive timber framing. The church comprises a west tower, aisles, a southwest porch set into the angle of the tower and south aisle, and a polygonal apse at the east end.

The west tower is battlemented with stepped angle buttresses, and features paired louvred bell openings with flat traceried heads, paired stair windows, and an octagonal stair tower rising part-way at the southwest corner. The southwest porch has a stepped parapet and an arched entrance with a niche containing a statue of St Matthew above, flanked by piers terminating in crocketed finials. The low aisles have three-light traceried windows, and the clerestory incorporates herringbone timber-framed panels alternating with flat-headed four-light windows. The east end has a five-light traceried window, and a gabled vestry is attached to the northeast side.

Inside, the church showcases a five-bay nave arcade of steel girders encased in timber, supporting a false hammerbeam timber roof. The walls are of exposed ashlar, with painted decoration of 1910, restored in 1963, filling the timber-framed triforium. The decoration consists of a row of stencilled motifs framing painted figures bearing shields. Painted Beatitudes adorn the canted beams above the arcades. The west-end baptistry, designed by Douglas and executed by W F Lodge in 1903, features stencilled IHS motifs with crowns, a frieze at window level, and roundels with painted figures representing the Virtues. The baptistry window is by Henry Holiday and was gifted by Mrs Alice Wickham, daughter of W E Gladstone. A panelled octagonal red sandstone font sits on a plinth, topped with an ornate oak cover made by Herbert Read of Exeter.

Steps lead up to the chancel and sanctuary, which contains an Arts & Crafts style reredos made of beaten copper. Chancel furnishings, also by Douglas, are made of oak and feature flowing, free Perpendicular style carved decoration. A 1905 organ by Bishop & Son is located to the south of the chancel.

The church contains a collection of stained glass by Henry Holiday, including the five-light east window depicting a crucifixion scene. Other glass is by C F Whitcombe and T M Cox. This church provides a good ensemble of features representing various artistic contributions.