Illingworth: St Mary
Overview
Grid reference: SE 69 283
St Mary’s is a large extended Georgian church of blackened sandstone, with a slender tower. This is basically an extended Georgian preaching box, with two tiers of seven elliptically arched windows and a modillion eaves cornice. There is a shallow porch at the east end of the south side of the nave, with pilasters and a plain pediment, reached up a flight of four steps.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Description of Archaeology and History
A chapel on the site dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary is first recorded in 1525 in a deed of Henry Savile, Lord of Ovenden, a township adjacent to the south also now absorbed by Halifax. At the beginning of the 16th century Halifax had become a prosperous town through woollen manufacture and continued to develop into the early 20th century, declining thereafter.
The church was enlarged to the north in 1738, reflecting this expansion. The bell survives from this date. This building was demolished and the core of the present church was built in 1777. Local tradition has it that the new church was built a little to the north of the old. It was funded by public subscription, which amounted to over £600. The original building which was enlarged to become the Talbot Inn in 1840 (enlarged again in the 1930s, and as noted above demolished 2009) may also have been built in this year as the vicarage.
The church was damaged by fire in 1841 and subsequently restored. In 1866-70 the vestry and baptistery were moved to the west end and the floors of the baptistery and vestry inlaid with encaustic tiles by Maw & Co. New heating was put in and the church reseated and redecorated. The chancel with side chapels was added in c1888 in a florid style intended to match the Georgian nave. Was the tower added at this point, as suggested in the listing description? It looks more like naïve early Gothick, ie part of the 1777 build or perhaps slightly later.
The vestry and baptistery were rebuilt in 1925, a dedication stone of this year marks the “quadringcentenary” of the church, placed by Robert Ramsden. Again, all the work undertaken is of a Neo-Georgian character to match the oldest parts of the church. In the 1970s a west extension was built and the western two bays were screened off to provide a community centre and offices, the Illingworth Centre. While the latter is well used, the part of the church still used for worship has recently become shabby and almost derelict, and is no longer used for regular services.
Exterior Description
This is basically an extended Georgian preaching box, with two tiers of seven elliptically arched windows and a modillion eaves cornice. There is a shallow (unused) porch at the east end of the south side of the nave, with pilasters and a plain pediment, reached up a flight of four steps.
The thin west tower gives some vertical emphasis, with pairs of pointed belfry openings, topped by shaped and partly pierced parapet and almost beehive pinnacles. Embracing the tower and extending westward is the 1970 extension of two storeys, slightly lower than the nave, with rectangular stone mullioned windows and an entrance on the south side with pediment and pilasters. It blends well with the older parts of the building.
The elaborate chancel and side chapels are in a much richer version of the style of the nave. The chancel, added c1888, has a gable end with a pediment, and a Venetian window. The pediment carries within it a smaller scrolled pediment with a circular window above and floral swags. To right and left of the window are small carved decorative panels, and there are decorated panels above the window with swags and urns.
The north and south sides of the chancel have a single rectangular lower window with three arch-headed windows in a clearstorey over the side chapels. The side chapel on the north side has a hipped lean-to roof and has two small windows to the east. The south side chapel has a lean-to roof and two windows to the side and one to the east end.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1870-1880s
East window has the Ascension, flanked by Nativity and Angel at the Tomb. 1870s or 80s by Ward & Hughes. Crucifixion and Deposition in the side chapels, all these a scheme.
Stained Glass
1860
South wall eastern window by Heaton, Butler and Bayne, the Baptism of our Lord. Given in memory of the last surviving daughter of Rev Anthony Moss, c 1860.
Stained Glass
1869
A decorative window with plaque “To the glory of God, and in evidence of their love to the church, this window has been erected by subscription among the working classes of Illingworth.” West end, c1869, by Ward & Hughes.
Stained Glass
1869
The bottom lights of the eastern window north wall have The Last Supper, the gift of the wife of Colonel Akroyd; by Ward & Hughes, c1869.
Interior
Interior Description
The nave has a flat roof with restrained plasterwork around a central brass chandelier, a fine piece, and a modillion cornice. The upper windows formerly lit a gallery, now lost, stained glass in the eastern lower windows. The chancel arch is supported on pairs of Ionic columns with flanking giant Ionic pilasters and, on the south side, a decorative plaster panel. On the north side the plaster has been hacked away. The original arched openings with keystones to the side chapels have been blocked and replaced by small doors. The nave has been cleared of fixed seating and has modern chairs and a nave altar, on purple carpet over a stone flagged floor.
The chancel ceiling is barrel vaulted with plaster panels and modillion cornice, with the top windows inset. The reredos and walls are wood panelled. To the right are two sedilia in semi-circular plastered niches with engaged columns and frieze. Beige carpet and chairs. To each side are 2-bay arched openings to the side chapels which are defined by open-work iron screens of the early 20th century. The south side chapel has an altar and a timber-framed roof. The north side room is similar but used as a vestry and store. Stained glass in all the east windows.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
Plain chest
Reredos
1925
Oak, incorporates a First World War memorial with inscription behind the altar and small figures of saints including St George within a colonnade under a heavy cornice, pediment above with swags.
Pulpit
1866
Large square pulpit of Caen stone presented in 1866 with marble panels and inlaid gilded figures, dentilled cornice.
Lectern
1918
Wood, coved stem with carved figure of Virgin & Child, traceried reading desk, given by the Farrar family in 1918.
Font (object)
1866
Hexagonal font of Caen stone, but whitewashed and with gilded figures inset into the bowl panels. Flat lid. 1866, of a piece with the pulpit.
Rail
Oak, open arches in a neo-Georgian style.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SE 69 283
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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