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Description: Church of St. Matthew

Address: St Matthews Church Wakefield Road Lightcliffe Halifax West Yorkshire

Grade: II

Group detail: Wakefield Road, Lightcliffe (south side)

Full description:
Church. 1874 by W. Swindon Barber for Major Foster. Hammer-dressed stone, ashlar dressings, slate roof. Gothic Revival. Nave, chancel with lateral chapel, north-west tower, low side aisles, baptistry and vestry. Tower of 4 stages with diagonal buttresses to the east with much batter. Tall octagonal clasping turret to the north rises a full stage higher. North doorway with 2-centred arch in base of tower over which is carved statue of patron saint in niche which has clock in 3rd stage. Tall 4-light belfry with decorative hoodmould. Embattled parapet. Angle buttresses to west embrace gabled west end of nave which has impressive window with panelled tracery with hoodmould forming ogee. Angle buttress is surmounted by crocketed pinnacle. 4 bay nave, divisions marked by offset buttresses. Embattled parapet, square headed clerestorey windows 4-centred arched aisle windows both with panel tracery. Embattled gable between nave and chancel which is under lower roof with 2 tall arched windows in the flank walls and large east window with panel tracery of late C14 style. Diagonal offset buttresses and embattled gable. Baptistry is gabled and runs out of 1st bay of south nave aisle with coped gable, angle buttresses and arch-headed window. Vestry breaks out of 1st bay of chancel is similarly treated. Interior: Octagonal columns with moulded capitals to nave arcade. Coupled colonnettes to tall pointed chancel arch. Heavily timbered 10 bay arch-braced roof with alternate ogee to arch, brattished collar supports short king post with fretted roundels to either side. Carved reredos of Caen stone, with scene of Last Supper (by J. Birnie Philip) flanked by inscribed tablets with the Creed, the Law and Lords Prayer, carved stone piscina and sedila. Small oak screen to chapel with monuments to Major Foster's family, marble altar of classical design. Furnishings: Fine brass lectern with Gothic base, and altar rails. Richly carved choir-stalls in Perpendicular style. Elaborate carved octagonal font with tall font cover by James Clinsty (Huddersfield). Similarly carved Caen stone pulpit. Coved screen to west end commemorates 1st World War victims. Small Royal Arms from Lightcliffe Old Church of Queen Victoria c1840 incorporating Escutcheon of Saxony, (an unusual if not unique feature).