Church Heritage Record 646261

5-bay aisleless nave with south porch and north-west tower and spire. Apsidal chancel with north organ chamber and south choir vestry linked to hall. Boiler room beneath north-east corner.

Coursed local sandstone with ashlar dressings. Westmorland slate roof with crested terracotta ridge tiles.

Greengates’ proximity to the Leeds and Liverpool canal, north of Greengates, lead to the construction of several mills in the town. Some remain, others have been demolished.

Heritage Gateway records the discovery of a neolithic polished stone axe within 500 metres of the site, indicating early settlement within the area. Other records are for the 19th and 20th century textile and wool mill buildings that once dominated the townscape. Only some remain.

A plaque on the interior west wall records the central east window given by Revd Power in memory of his wife Nellie, in whose memory the church was endowed by members of the Knowles family. Nellie was the eldest daughter of the Knowles. Both families feature within memorials around the church. It is said that the Knowles’ funded the laying of the sanctuary floor. Another name associated with the church (organ) is Baxter, who were linked with one of the textile mills in Greengates. The Garnetts (lectern) may also have contributed to the initial costs of building the church.

Prior to its construction worship had taken place in houses before moving to the Old Mechanics’ Institute which was used as a Mission Church until St John’s was built 1892-3. It was designed by local architects Jowett Kendall and James Harper Bakes from Idle and was consecrated in 1893. In 1911 Greengates became a separate parish and a foundation stone was laid for the vicarage, opposite.

The archaeological potential of the site is low. There are no known designations relating to the ecology of the plot, though the site is within the Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire Coalfield National Character Area.

Quite austere looking church, set on high ground. The stone church has pointed lancet windows with ashlar surrounds, and buttresses between each bay. A continous plinth runs around the base. A gabled south porch extends from the westernmost bay. The pointed doorway has a hoodmould with a small round window above.

The most dominant aspect of the building is the spire which rises from a buttressed north-west tower with wide square base, octagonal bell-stage with alternating louvred lancet openings beneath hood moulds and clock faces, completed by a short octagonal stone spire with round windows near the tip. Although overall the tower is quite squat, given the church’s hillside location the spire can be seen above trees for quite some distance on approach from the north side.

The west end has two two-light lancet windows with a rose window above. There is a pointed west door in the base of tower set within four orders of moulding with a hood mould above with foliate stops.

Stone cross finials mark the gable ends of the roofs. The chancel roof is lower with the north organ chamber roof lower again. A chimney projects to the north gable above two 2-light lancet windows. A similar projection to the south side contains the vestry and is attached to the hall. This runs parallel to the nave, creating a small courtyard between the two.

The east end of the chancel is hexagonal and each facet contains a two-light pointed window.

The interior is accessed through the south porch. The aisleless nave has large stone flags along the central aisle with raised boarded pew platforms with fixed pine benches (complete with umbrella stands and rails) to either side. Carpet runners on the seats. The walls are plastered and painted white. There is some stained glass, the remainder is plain cathedral glass. The roof is constructed from hammerbeam roof trusses resting on stone corbels between each bay. Pendant lights are suspended from each hammerpost. A wide cornice, pierced with quatrefoils and painted, continues all around the interior at eaves level.

The western most bay has a low pointed arch marking it out from the nave, and the roof level is slightly lower. The space is clear of pews. The font is positioned in the centre of the west end and flags and banners are arranged around it. The base of the tower is entered through a door to the north. From which another small door leads up to the tower from the north-east corner.

At the east end is a pointed chancel arch with exposed stone surrounds and responds. The chancel is raised by two steps with wooden choir stalls (painted and grained) placed to north and south. The chancel is oak panelled to dado height, and the walls are painted a vibrant blue. The organ fills an arch in the north wall, and that to the south side is panelled with glazing in the apex. The vestry door is east of the choir stalls. The floor is paved with black and white marble tiles. Three steps rise to the sanctuary where the altar is raised by a further two steps.