Church

Leeds Minster

Leeds Minster

Leeds Minster, the Minster and Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds, is a Grade I Gothic Revival church on Kirkgate, Leeds, in the Diocese of Leeds and the parish of Leeds City.

Location
Leeds, Yorkshire
Country
England
County
Yorkshire
City / town
Leeds
Address
Kirkgate, Leeds, Yorkshire, LS2 7DJ
Postcode
LS2 7DJ
Built
1839-41; east end altered 1870-80
Architect
Robert Dennis Chantrell; east-end alterations associated with G E Street reredos of 1888
Denomination
Church of England
Dedication
Peter
Diocese
Leeds
Parish
Leeds City
Grade
I
Style
Gothic Revival (Perpendicular)
Materials
Ashlar with slate roofs
Grid reference
SE 306 333
Opening hours
Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 2pm.
Access
Accessible toilets in church. Level access to the main areas

Overview

Historic England records a church of 1839-41 by R. D. Chantrell, built during the incumbency of Dr W. F. Hook, with alterations to the east end of 1870-80. The fabric is ashlar under slate roofs. The plan has equal-length chancel and nave, both with clerestories and tall aisles, a massive tower at the centre of the north aisle, a shallow chancel apse, a low outer north aisle and a south transept, generally with Perpendicular tracery. The main entrance is below the tower, with massive oak doors and original ironwork. The five-light east window is flanked by crocketed pinnacles and corner turrets. The tower has panelled sides, a clock by Potts of Leeds, a tall two-light belfry, openwork battlements and crocketed pinnacles.

The interior is entered at the crossing. The long chancel rises in steps to the sanctuary. Crossing and transepts are lierne-vaulted and the apse fan-vaulted, all in plaster. Enormous galleries run along nave and chancel. The sanctuary has a marble arcade with mosaic apostles by Salviati of Venice. The reredos of coloured marble and alabaster, representing Christ in Glory, is by G. E. Street, with cartoons by Clayton and Bell, executed by Rust in 1888. A panelled memorial tomb to Dr Hook is by Sir George Gilbert Scott, 1875. The church received the honorific title of Minster in 2012. A church is recorded on the site in Domesday; Anglo-Scandinavian cross fragments (the Leeds Cross) were found during the present rebuild.

Further Information