St Paul, Ireland Wood
St Paul, Ireland Wood
St Paul’s is a post-war Church of England parish church on Raynel Drive, Ireland Wood, Leeds, in the Diocese of Leeds. It is not listed.
- Location
- Ireland Wood, Yorkshire
- Country
- England
- County
- Yorkshire
- City / town
- Ireland Wood
- Address
- Raynel Drive, Ireland Wood, Yorkshire, LS16 6BS
- Postcode
- LS16 6BS
- Built
- 1964–65; hall and cottage opened 1951
- Consecrated
- 4 September 1965
- Architect
- Geoffrey Davy of Kitson, Parish, Ledgard and Pyman
- Denomination
- Church of England
- Dedication
- Paul
- Diocese
- Leeds
- Parish
- Ireland Wood
- Style
- Post-war octagonal; inspired by Le Corbusier
- Grid reference
- SE 260 393
- Opening hours
- Open 10am to 4pm Monday to Thursday.
- Access
- Ramp or level access available on request. Accessible toilets in church
Overview
The parish website records that Ireland Wood grew from woodland and farmland after the Second World War. Worship began in a farmhouse under the Rector of Adel; the Leeds Church Extension Society bought land, and a church hall with adjoining cottage opened and was dedicated on 10 February 1951. Building of the present church began in June 1964. Architect Geoffrey Davy of Kitson, Parish, Ledgard & Pyman designed an octagonal plan inspired by Le Corbusier, with Flemish glass in arrow-slit windows and a brutalist chandelier and cross above the altar. The church was consecrated on Saturday 4 September 1965. The parish was formally established in 1976.
The Twentieth Century Society notes the building as unlisted and completed in 1965. Historic England has described Davy’s three Leeds churches of 1959–65 (St Cyprian and St James, St David, and St Paul) as the most striking of their period in the city, showing New Churches Research Group liturgical thinking and the influence of Ronchamp. The interior is a large unobstructed worship space with a cupola over the bell.