Wesley Road
Armley
Leeds
LS12 1SR
United Kingdom
St. Bartholomew's Church, Armley is a parish church in the Church of England in Armley, West Yorkshire. Worship at St. Bartholomew's is firmly rooted in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of the Church of England with a solemn mass being celebrated weekly.
HISTORY : The present church was built starting in 1872 to designs by the architects Henry Walker and Joseph Althron of Leeds. and is now a Grade II* listed building. It was consecrated on 24 August 1877, but the tower, porches and vestry were only completed c.1900. The tower was not dedicated until 1904. The church is constructed of Horsforth sandstone. It cost £20,000. The church was restored in 2000 with the aid of a Heritage Lottery grant. The church replaced a small chapel, the foundations of which, along with the Gott vault are in the churchyard to the north of the present church.
ORGAN: The church is perhaps best known for its organ, built by the German builder Edmund Schulze. The organ chamber is supported by a stone double arcade. The fine carved case by Walker and Athron has five angels playing musical instruments. It was originally installed in the grounds of Meanwood Towers in 1869 by T.S. Kennedy and was a gift to his wife. In 1877 it was inaugurated in St. Peter's Church, Harrogate. Following a dispute with the vicar, the organ was moved to St. Bartholomew's in 1879. It was rebuilt in 1905 by James Jepson Binns . Other restoration work took place in 1956 by Hill, Norman and Beard; in 1974 by John T. Jackson and Son; and in 2004 by Harrison & Harrison.