Church of St Matthew

Church of St Matthew

A parish church in 19th century Gothic style, comprising a nave with south porch and north aisle, a slightly lower chancel and west tower. The building is constructed of rubble stone with freestone dressings and slate roofs behind coped gables on moulded kneelers.

The south porch has a 2-centred arch with continuous chamfer and iron gates installed in 1983. To the left and right of the porch are square-headed windows of 2 cusped lights. Further right is a 2-light geometrical window under a transverse gable. A buttress stands between the nave and chancel. The chancel has a blocked segmental-pointed south doorway with a 2-light square-headed window to its right. The east window comprises 3 stepped lights under a hood mould. The north aisle has a pointed east window lighting the organ chamber, and in the north wall a pair of cusped lights also lighting the organ chamber, a 2-light geometrical window under a gable and 2 square-headed windows further right similar to those on the south side. The west wall has a simple pointed window.

The unbuttressed 3-stage tower has simple square-headed north and south windows in the lower stage and narrower windows in the middle stage. Bell openings are paired pointed lights with louvres. A 19th century corbelled cornice runs below the coped parapet, which conceals a pyramidal slate roof.

The interior is ashlar-faced and the west wall bears an inscription reading "The Spirit and the Bride say come". The nave has a 4-bay arched-brace roof with cusping above the collar beams, intermediate trusses and 2 tiers of windbraces. The 3-bay north arcade has rectangular piers with continuous double chamfers and 2-centred arches. In the west wall is a segmental-headed boarded door to the tower. The north aisle and organ chamber have a 4-bay arched-brace roof with intermediate trusses. The 2-centred chancel arch has an inner order on corbels with keeled roll moulding. The chancel has a 2-bay arched-brace roof on foliage corbels with foliage cornice. The sanctuary has a marble floor. The east window has a rere arch with ringed marble shafts. Sedilia are set beneath the chancel south window with a central colonette under 2 cusped arches. To their left is a cusped piscina with hood mould linking both piscina and sedilia. In the north wall is a cusped aumbry and a 2-centred arch into the organ chamber with chamfers dying into the imposts.

The octagonal 15th century font stands on a squat round stem and base. Pews have poppy heads and are mainly of 1877, with four earlier pews at the west end of the nave. In the north aisle is a bench with Jacobean style ornate back of arched panels. The pulpit, screen base and choir stalls were designed by Miss Amy Thomas and Miss Faltin in a consistent style. The polygonal pulpit has panels with roundels incorporating crosses. The heavily modelled screen base has 4 square posts on each side surmounted by carved angels and narrow panels bearing shields with IHS and XP monograms and Passion symbols. The communion rail has simple turned balusters.

Between the north aisle and organ chamber is a 3-bay wooden memorial screen with 3 narrow cusped arches over 2 dado panels in each bay. The centre carries a memorial inscription to J.K. Glasscodine, killed in 1918, and the crest of the Welch Regiment. In the nave south wall is a memorial brass plaque to Herbert Harrison, killed in the Transvaal in action against the Boers in 1880, by Cawthorp of London. A brass to Jesse Harrison, died 1895, is by Jones & Willis.

Several windows contain stained glass. The east window, by Clayton & Bell, depicts scenes in the life of Christ. In the chancel south window are angels bearing shields with the Pious Pelican and Agnus Dei. The nave windows are by Burlison & Grylls in muted colours. From the east end, two windows illustrate the theme of Christ as a shepherd, one dated 1878, and to the right of the doorway the window depicts the crucifixion and key of David. In the north aisle the west window depicts St John the Baptist, dated 1878. The three north windows, from the west end, depict the Resurrection, Jesus with Mary Magdalene and Simon Peter, and parables including the Good Samaritan.