St Bartholomew's Church, Armley

The first chapel at Armley was built in 1630 but not consecrated by Richard Sterne, Archbishop of York, until 1674. In 1737 it was extended to the north, the roof was raised and a small balcony was added at the west end.

In 1825 the chapel was much enlarged through the benevolence of Benjamin Gott, a local industrial businessman with woollen mills in Leeds.

A new church was built starting in 1872 to designs by the architects Henry Walker and Joseph Althron of Leeds, and is now a Grade II* listed building.[2] It was consecrated in 1877 but the tower was not dedicated until 1904. The church is constructed of Horsforth sandstone. The old chapel was demolished in 1909.

The Caen stone reredos erected in 1877 has alabaster carvings,[16] representing the Magi, crucifixion and Old Testament figures.[2] John Wormald Appleyard was present at the consecration on 24 August 1877, listed alongside the architects Henry Walker and Joseph Athron who designed the building and reredos. Since no other stone carver is credited for this work, it is reasonable to suppose that it could be the work of Appleyard.[17]

The pulpit is of alabaster and marble, designed by architect Thomas Armfield after the pulpit at the shrine of Sebaldus in St. Sebaldus Church, Nuremberg.[16] It was carved originally by Mawer and Ingle for the former St Bartholomew's Church, on the occasion of its 1861 restoration, then moved along with the font and the old tomb memorials to the new building after the consecration.[18][19][20]

There is a sculpture by Joseph Gott at the west end of the north aisle, a memorial to Benjamin Gott of Armley House who died in 1839. In the south aisle there is Faith comforting the Mourner, commemorating the two sons of Benjamin and Elizabeth Gott who died in Paris and Athens.[2] Benjamin Gott's son William Gott was interred in the family vault in the former St Bartholomew's Church.[21]

The organ

The church is perhaps best known for its organ. It was built by the German builder Edmund Schulze.[22] It was originally installed in Meanwood Towers in 1869. In 1877 it was inaugurated in St. Peter's Church, Harrogate. Following a dispute with the vicar, the organ was installed in St. Bartholomew's in 1879. It was rebuilt in 1905 by James Jepson Binns and other restoration work took place in 1956 by Hill, Norman and Beard, 1974 by John T. Jackson and Son and 2004 by Harrison & Harrison.

The organ has been awarded a Grade II* listing by the British Institute of Organ Studies for organs which are good representatives of the work of their builder, in substantially original condition.

A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[23]

Organists

John Varley Roberts

• 1862–1868: John Varley Roberts[24] (afterwards organist of Halifax Parish Church)
• 1878–1921: Thomas Cawthra
• 1921–1924: Thomas E Pearson (afterwards organist of Halifax Parish Church)
• 1924–1937: Herbert Bardgett (afterwards chorusmaster of Nottingham Harmonic Society)
• 1937–1938: John B Dalby (afterwards organist of St Machar's Cathedral Aberdeen)
• 1938–1939: Donald H Martin
• 1939–1940: Eric Whiteside
• 1940–1953: W Iles Pulford
• 1953–1955: Alan A Tranah
• 1955–1962: John J F Watkins
• 1962–1966: John Snow
• 1966–1973: Anthony Norcliffe (later organist of St Chad's Church, Far Headingley and currently Mill Hill Chapel)
• 1973–1986: Arnold Mahon
• 1986–present: Graham Barber

• Listed buildings in Leeds (Armley Ward)