Gomersal: St Mary

Name:
Gomersal: St Mary
Record Type:
Church
Church code:
646255
Diocese:
Leeds
Archdeaconry:
Halifax
Parish:
Gomersal

Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?
This is a Grade II Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?
There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

The church is not in a Conservation Area

Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?
This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
 

Approximate Date

Approximate Date:
Victorian/Pre-WWI

Exterior Image

Exterior image of 646255 Gomersal St Mary
Caption:
Exterior image of 646255 Gomersal St Mary
Description:
Photograph of the exterior of St Mary church Gomersal taken 25 August 2009
Year / Date:
2009
Copyright:
Alexander P Kapp
Originator:
Alexander P Kapp

Summary Description

The Church of St. Mary the Blessed Virgin is situated within a large church yard, central to the town of Gomersal, on an exposed site high above the towns of Cleckheaton and Liversedge; with its distinctive tower the building is an important landmark for many miles around. St. Mary’s was built between 1850 and 1851 to the designs of John Dobson, architect, of Leeds; the building reflects closely the development of the town and the history of its people during the Industrial Development period. The nave is of six bays, with a four-light west window and a steeply pitched stone slate roof on braced trusses; the aisles are similar with a less steeply pitched roof. To the third west bay of the south aisle is a south porch. The chancel is of two bays with a stone slate roof covering on scissor braced trusses, a five-light east window with tracery and carved reredos, with crocketed heads and pinnacles with crests. To the south is a transept with a sacristy to the east, and to the north an organ chamber with choir vestry, now the parish office, and toilet, all in the Gothic Revival style. The sacristy and choir vestry are later extensions. To the north west of the nave is a tower of three stages with diagonal buttresses, pinnacles and a ‘flag pole’ which is in fact a telecommunications aerial; intermediate pinnacles appear to have been removed to accommodate aerial supports. Directly below the tower parapets are corbeled brackets with figure heads, beasts and gargoyles of high quality; below, to each elevation are three light louvred openings with tracery, hood moulds and label stops; those to the east elevation are of high quality. Below are clock faces to the north, east and west elevations. Walls are of hammer dressed coursed sandstone with ashlar dressings. Roofs over the main body of the church are covered with stone slates, with stone ridges; the tower roof is covered with lead and those to the choir vestry and sacristy are covered with stainless steel. Rainwater gutters are of cast iron. Shortly after St. Mary’s was built a Sunday School was established and later St. Mary’s School was built. Between 2003 and 2004 an extensive re-ordering of the interior was carried out, which included the removal of pews, the introduction of a toilet and a kitchen, and an improved heating system. As a result of these changes, St. Mary’s is today a well-attended place of worship and, in addition, a well-used centre of support and provision of facilities for the local community.

Visiting and Facilities

The church is open for worship.
Work in progress - can you help?
 

Church Website

Church Website:
Work in progress - can you help?

Sources and Further Information

Antiquarian Horological Society (2015) AHS Turret Clock database Unique Number ID: 1078 [Digital Archive/Data]
01/07/2009
Arctic Associates Ltd. (23 February 2018) Certificate of Practical Completion [Digital Archive/Document]
Certificate of Practical Completion
Richard Jaques (2018) Photographic Record [Digital Archive/Document]
Photographic Record
Alexander P Kapp (2009) Exterior image of 646255 Gomersal St Mary [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 646255 Gomersal St Mary
CWGC (2016) Commonwealth War Graves Commission CWGC Unique File Reference Number: 2952 [Bibliography/Data]
Number of War Graves: 5
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/18110/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
ICBS (1817-1989) Incorporated Church Building Society Archive https://images.lambethpalacelibrary.org.uk/luna/servlet/detail/LPLIBLPL~34~34~90426~114222 [Archive/Graphic material]

Ground plan

ICBS File Number - 04166

Coverage - 1849-1852

Created by DOBSON, Jeremiah: fl. 1849-70 of Leeds

ESOS (2023) Energy Audit - Gomersal: St Mary [Digital Archive/Document]
Energy Audit - Gomersal: St Mary
Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 1 Bell [Archive/Index]
1 Bell