St Aidan's Church, Leeds

St Aidan's Church in Harehills, Leeds, West Yorkshire is a Church of England parish church built in 1894. It is a large Victorian basilica-type red-brick building which is Grade II* listed. A church hall is adjacent. The architects were Johnson and Crawford Hick of Newcastle.[1]

St Aidan's Church
Church of St Aidan (Bishop Woodford Memorial)
53.8126°N 1.5207°W / 53.8126; -1.5207
OS grid referenceSE 3166 3525
LocationLeeds
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipLiberal Catholic
Websitewww.staidan-leeds.org.uk
History
Founded1894
Specifications
Capacity800
Administration
ProvinceYork
DioceseLeeds
Episcopal areaLeeds
ArchdeaconryLeeds
DeaneryAllerton
ParishLeeds Saint Aidan
Clergy
Priest in chargeThe Revd Andrea Hofbauer
Priest(s)The Revd Diana Zanker
The Revd Paul Hunt
Deacon(s)Dcn Clyde Rawlins
Laity
Reader(s)Caroline Pepper
Tony Jowitt

History

The church was consecrated by John Pulleine, Bishop of Richmond, on 13 October 1894. The first vicar was Samuel Mumford Taylor, who later became Bishop of Kingston-upon-Thames. His pastoral staff and mitres were bequeathed to the church.

The apse is decorated with 1,000 square feet (93 m2) of mosaics by Frank Brangwyn, which were completed in 1916. They show scenes from St Aidan's life: feeding the poor, in Northumbria, preaching and the death of the saint. They are said to be best viewed at noon on a sunny winter's day, when they are lit by the nave windows.[1] Brangwyn was initially commissioned to decorate the church by painting, and began this in 1910. However, he was concerned that the smoky atmosphere of Harehills would destroy it, so started again with a mosaic. On the south wall, behind the altar, is the scene of St Aidan preaching. The artist's initials, F. B., are subtly given in a pattern of stars.[1]

The organ, dating from 1896, is by James Jepson Binns and is in unusual in being unmodified from its original condition.[2]

Present day

The church is unusual among Anglican parish churches in celebrating the Mass daily. It was previously in the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds, whose cathedral is at Ripon. However the church became part of the Diocese of Leeds in 2014.

From January 2012 until 2017, the parish was united with Leeds All Souls.

  • Church Interior
    Church Interior
  • Pulpit
    Pulpit
  • Organ
    Organ
  • Font
    Font
  • Blue Plaque near main door
    Blue Plaque near main door
  • Sign giving times of worship
    Sign giving times of worship
  • Detail of mosaic
    Detail of mosaic

See also

References
  1. B. Pepper (1998) "The Mosaic of St Aidan's", pp 119-124 in L. S. Tate Aspects of Leeds ISBN 1-871647-38-X
  2. St Aidan's Leeds Archived 10 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine The Organ
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