Moldgreen Parish Church

Moldgreen in 1863

In 1863 much of the district was still green. Most of the houses that we see today were not built. The roads near the Church (Brook Street, Church Street and Church Lane.) had not been constructed.
The way which now leads from the Green Cross Hotel up Chapel Street (was then called Kilner Bank End) to the Church, ended some-where near the Working Men’s Club.

The site of the Moldgreen junior School was occupied by two large houses, built by Thomas Atkinson and either his brother Michael or Richard. The Atkinson’s were a well-to-do local family, and Thomas is said to have been the first person in the district to have owned a carriage.

Originally the houses had been approached from a lane leading from the bottom of Almondbury Bank to Little Carr Green, Rawthorp and Nettleton, but now the Austerland-Wakefield Turnpike Road Passed near them. Leading from the road to the houses was a fine avenue of elm trees which has given the name to the present ‘Avenue’

The turnpike road was a sign of the growth of Moldgreen. Near the Moldgreen end of Huddersfield Long Bridge over the River Colne (this bridge was later replaced by Somerset Bridge) there was a toll gate and weighing machine. A traffic census taken in January of 1863 showed that almost 800 vehicles passed through daily, resulting in an annual income of £2,000.

Two horse omnibus services, one owed by C. Brierley and the other by Robert Coney, carried passengers between Huddersfield and the Red House Junction every quarter of an hour, and coachers passing through on their way to Wakefield and carriers carts conveying goods as far as Clayton West increased the traffic on the road.

Children could attend one of three Schools. There was a seminary for Boys and Girls on Kilner Bank, and two Schools for Boys only, one owned by Thomas Stockhill in Broad Lane and the other by Mr Charles Ramsden in Malham Place, Bankfield Road.

By 1863 the population of Moldgreen had risen to over 3,000, and the local board was attempting to obtain an additional water supply. A scheme was proposed for the purchase of land at Squirrel Ditch from Sir John Ramsden, with the idea of building a reservoir there, but was found impracticable.

Plans for a Church at Moldgreen

The idea of building a Church at Moldgreen had first been put forward in 1854. At that time members of the Church of England who wished to attend Church had to go to Kirkheaton, Almondbury, Huddersfield or the Chapel of Ease belonging to St Paul’s Church and situated at Upper Aspley, the Chapel was closed for worship when Christ Church was opened.

On the 25^th November 1854 a meeting was called at Lascelles Hall the Rev Christopher Alderson was chairman.

 In addition to the appeal for funds from well-to-do parishioners, an other hand bill was sent out to those who would be only able to make a small contribution. The wives of the Rector of Kirkheaton and his Curate, Miss Sarah Martha Beaumont of Lea Head Dalton and Miss Eleanor Tolson of Greenhead Dalton formed an appeal committee and the Rector of Kirkheaton was Treasurer.

The delay in building of the Church between 1854 and 1862 was caused by the difficulty in obtaining a site. It was at one time hoped that land could be purchase opposite the bottom of Smithy Lane.

The Church is situated on an elevated piece of ground at the junction of Broad Lane with the new street called Church Street, leading from Bank End Road, and is especially easy of access to the inhabitants of the upper part of the district.  

The design of the Church, which is by Mr W. H. Crosland, architect of Leeds and Halifax, is but partially carried out, the nave and aisles only being built. The style is the same as that which obtained in England about 1360, known as early decorated.

The nave is about 80 feet in length by 26 feet broad and has a arcade north and south of five bays, with circular columns in one stone, bearing deeply splayed arches. The cap and bases of the columns are richly moulded. The westernmost bay is narrower than the rest, and forms a narthex bay, the entrance being in the west of the south aisle.

There is a large traceried window of four lights at the west, and a range of two light windows in the aisles, with traceried heads of different designs. A handsome stained glass two-light memorial window representing the Crucifixion and Ascension, adorns the eastern end of the aisle. This window is from the manufacturer of Evens Brothers of Shrewsbury, has been erected by F.W. Jacombs, Esq, in the memory of his Mother.

The roof is open timbered of wagon shaps, the rafters showing. They are constructed of Memel timber unstained.  The seats are the same but stained. The pulpit is of stone and wood and stands against the East pier, the reading desk being the opposite. A portion of the North aisle is screened off, and serves for temporary vestry and organ chapel.

There are fixed seating for 450 including children. The warming chamber is under the temporary vestry.   The stone is from Crosland-hill, the cost of the erection including land and boundary walls is about £2,400. The work was carried out under the supervision of Mr M. Nulty, Clerk of works. The Church is lighted with gas, the fittings which have been supplied by Mr Brown of Birmingham, metal worker.

Other contractors, plumbing by Mr Chadwick Westgate, Plastering by Mr Tunnacliffe and the painting by Knight Hardy and Jackson Huddersfield, Suppliers carpeting by William Atkinson of John William street Huddersfield, the alter and pulpit F.B Hobson of Buxton Road and Gilbert James French of Bolton.

The Reredos of the High Altar

When the Chancel was built, the East window was placed high in the stonework with the probable intension of a reredos being installed at some date.
In 1941 Mrs A.L. Barrett made a gift to the Church, making it possible for the fitting of a reredos together with sanctuary panelling and anew pupit.
The reredos was made to the design of Sir Charles. A. Nicholson by E. Bowman & sons, of Stamford, the actual carving being done by woodcarvers from Oberammergau who came to England as refugees during the war.

The Organ

During the first year after the consecration of the Church, music was provided by a hired harmonium; then a second-hand temporary organ purchased. A new organ was purchased in 1869, the instrument which was erected by Conacher of Huddersfield, contained 3 manual and pedal organ 23 stops and 1013 pipes.
It is said to have a remarkably sweet tone. A new trumpet stop was added in 1888. The present organ installed by James Binns of Leeds was bought in 1914.

The Baptistery

 In 1930 the font was moved from its position in the centre of the West-end of Church, and the Baptistery was constructed in the North West corner. The carved oak Font cover the gift of Mr & Mrs J. S. Hoyle was dedicated on Easter Day 1946 at the baptism of their granddaughter.

The War Memorial

The oak memorial tablet, to the memory of those who were killed in the 1914-1918 War, and the side Alter with brass candlesticks and cross were dedicated on the 26^th February 1920.

The Stained Glass Windows

The East window of three lights, depicting the Ascension of our Lord, together with the two light window on the south side of the Chancel showing the nativity, Crucifixion and Resurrection, were erected by Isabella Rose widow of Stanhope Smart of Dalton. “to the reverend memory of Mary the widow of Thomas Hayley of Huddersfield who died 2^nd November 1889 aged 79 years, and of Eleanor daughter of Thomas Hayley the beloved wife of Stanhope Smart of Dalton who died 23^rd October 1883, aged 48 years, also of the above names Stanhope Smart who died 7^th June 1895 aged 79 years.