St Peter's Church, Huddersfield

St Peter's Church, also known as Huddersfield Parish Church, is a Church of England parish church in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. There has been a church on the site since the 11th century, but the current building dates from 1836. It is situated on the Kirkgate near Southgate in the centre of the town. It is a Grade II* listed building.[2][4]

St Peter's Church
Huddersfield Parish Church
53.6472°N 1.7809°W / 53.6472; -1.7809
OS grid referenceSE1457816771
LocationHuddersfield, Kirklees
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationAnglican
ChurchmanshipAnglo-Catholic[1]
WebsiteChurch website
History
StatusParish church
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade II*
Designated3 March 1952[2]
Architect(s)James Pigott Pritchett
StyleGothic revival
Completed27 October 1836
Construction cost£10,000
Administration
DeaneryHuddersfield[3]
ArchdeaconryArchdeaconry of Halifax
Episcopal areaHuddersfield Episcopal Area
DioceseDiocese of Leeds
ProvinceProvince of York
Clergy
Vicar(s)The Revd Canon Simon Moor
Assistant priest(s)The Revd Janet Sargent
Curate(s)The Revd Simon Crook
Laity
Director of musicRichard Quarmby
Organist(s)Stephen Smith
TreasurerAnne John
Churchwarden(s)Mike Bembridge
Alan Eastwood

History

In legend, the first church on the site was built in the eleventh century by Walter de Lacy, the second son of Ilbert de Lacy. Walter decided to build the church after he survived being thrown from his horse and landing in a swamp.[5]

The church was rebuilt in the sixteenth century. From 1759 to 1771, Henry Venn was vicar at the church.[4]

By the early 19th century the town of Huddersfield was growing rapidly as a result of the industrial revolution and the parish church was too small to cope. In order to address this, Holy Trinity Church was opened in 1819 as a chapel of ease within the parish of St Peter's, before becoming a parish church in its own right in 1857.[6]

By the 1830s the 16th-century parish church needed urgent repairs, and it was therefore decided to rebuild it again, so the congregation constructed the current church. The architect for the church was James Pigott Pritchett and construction was carried out from 1834 to 1836. To keep costs down during construction the bricks used were from the previous church on the site, this meant that repairs were needed overcome the deficient materials.[2][7]

In 1851, two vestries were added at the eastern and northern ends of the church. In 1852, windows designed by Thomas Willement were installed in the church. In 1866, it was realised that the stonework of the church needed repairing. In 1873, new pews and a pulpit were installed. In 1879, a choir vestry was added.[2] In 1908 an organ was installed by local builder Conacher and Co. It was restored in 1984 by Philip Wood of Huddersfield.[5]

From 1921 to 1923, the sanctuary was reordered. A baldachin and the east window, designed by Ninian Comper, as part of a war memorial was also installed in the church. In the 1940s, the south transept was redesigned with a screen by Robert Thompson being added. In the 1980s, a new altar and dais were also installed.[2] Around 2012, the roof, ceiling and tower were repaired. Other essential repairs were also made, helped by a grant from English Heritage.[8][9]

On 17 February 2017, the church was the location of the funeral of Gorden Kaye, the Huddersfield-born television actor and star of 'Allo 'Allo!.[10]

Parish

On weekdays, the church is open from 9:00am until 4:00pm and on Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. On Sundays, there is a Book of Common Prayer communion service at 8:00am, a parish communion service at 10:00am and evensong at 3:00pm.[11]

  • The church in 1904
  • Interior in 1906

See also

References
  1. Blagdon-Gamlen, P. E. (1973) The Church Travellers Directory. London: Church Literature Association; p. 74
  2. Parish Church of St Peter, Huddersfield from British listed buildings, retrieved 6 March 2015
  3. Deaneries at Diocese of Leeds, accessed 13 July 2016
  4. Nostalgia: With gallery - A glimpse inside Huddersfield Parish Church St Peter’s history from Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 19 September 2012, retrieved 6 March 2015
  5. "Our Building: History". Huddersfield Parish Church. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  6. "History". Holy Trinity Huddersfield. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  7. Gibson, Keith; Booth, Albert. "Buildings of Huddersfield" (PDF). Huddersfield History Society. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  8. Big grant for Huddersfield Parish Church from Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 20 March 2012, retrieved 7 March 2015
  9. Church of St Peter, Kirkgate, Huddersfield - Kirklees from English Heritage, retrieved 7 March 2015
  10. "Gorden Kaye: Funeral of 'Allo 'Allo! star held in Huddersfield". BBC News. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  11. Huddersfield - St Peter from A Church Near You, retrieved 7 March 2015
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