Join us for a visit to two Leeds churches on Thursday October 10th, starting in the morning at St Johns the Evangelist, Briggate from 11.30 to 12.30 and in the afternoon Leeds Minster from 13.45 to 14.45
St Johns is the oldest church in Leeds. It was founded, very unusually, during the reign of Charles I in 1634 by John Harrison, a wealthy wool merchant. Grade 1 listed, the Church is particularly noted for its magnificent interior and carved woodwork. It was nearly pulled down in the mid-nineteenth century, but it was, after protests, saved and sympathetically restored by Norman Scott. As the church is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, a volunteer from the Trust will lead our guided tour.
After time for a lunch break, we will meet again at Leeds Minster at 13.40 where refreshments will be available before our tour.
Though completely rebuilt in 1841, Leeds Minster is on the site of the earliest church in Leeds. There are records of a church in the seventh century and an important Anglo-Saxon cross was discovered during the19th century rebuilding. The Grade 1 listed building, in the Gothic Revival Style, was designed to hold a congregation of 1,600 and when completed in 1841 was the largest church erected in England since St Pauls in 1707. Always regarded as the Parish Church of Leeds in 2012 it was granted the honorific title of Minster. After refreshments at 13 40 we will have a guided tour by one of the Minster’s staff.