Church Heritage Record 646371

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Leeds, Gipton: Church of the Epiphany

Name:

This is the church’s legal name as given by the Church Commissioners.

Leeds, Gipton: Church of the Epiphany
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

Church
Church code:

This is a unique identification number supplied to each church building by the Church Commissioners.

646371
Diocese:

Name of diocese in which the church building is located at the time of entry.

Leeds
Archdeaconry:

Name of archdeaconry in which the church building is located at the time of entry

Leeds
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

Epiphany, Gipton, Leeds

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

The decision to put a church building on the National Heritage List for England and assign it a listing grade is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is normally based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on the historic environment.

This is a Grade I Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?

The decision to schedule a feature (building, monument, archaeological remains, etc.) located within the church building’s precinct or churchyard is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on cultural heritage.

There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

National Parks are areas of countryside that include villages and towns, which are protected because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. In England, National Parks are designated by Natural England, the government’s advisor on the natural environment.

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

Conservation areas are places of special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of such areas. Conservation Areas are designated by the Local Council.

The church is not in a Conservation Area

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Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?

The Heritage at Risk programme is run and managed by Historic England, the government’s advisor on cultural heritage. It aims to protect and manage the historic environment, so that the number of ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England are reduced.

This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

Selecting a single date for the construction of a church building can sometimes be very difficult as most CoE buildings have seen many phases of development over time. The CHR allows you to record a time period rather than a specific date.

The CHR records the time period for the building’s predominant fabric as opposed to the date of the earliest fabric or the church’s foundation date.

Modern

Exterior Image

Gipton, Church of the Epiphany
Caption:

603242 

Gipton, Church of the Epiphany
Description:

It seems to be the wrong photograph. Provided coordinates come up with another church on geograph.org.uk

Year / Date:

2011, April 06

12/09/2020
Copyright:

Keltek Trust

Rob Andrews
Originator:

Keltek Trust

Rob Andrews

Summary Description

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The Anglican Church of the Epiphany is a Grade I listed building dominating its site at the junction of Amberton Road and Beech Lane in Gipton, Leeds. It is constructed of a reinforced concrete frame with brick cladding, chamfered concrete plinth, concrete floor bands and raised coped parapets. The roof over the nave and chancel is covered with plain tiles, whilst the roofs to the transepts and the ambulatory are covered with asphalt. The settlement of Gipton has a long history dating back to Domesday Book. It was absorbed into neighbouring Leeds when the city underwent rapid expansion in the Victorian period. During the 1930s Leeds City Council embarked on a programme of slum clearance from the city centre and Gipton was chosen as the site for one of the North of England's first garden suburbs, which was to include the building of houses, shops and schools. The first new council houses were completed in 1935, and the following year a temporary Mission Church known as the "tin hut" was opened. Plans for the Church of the Epiphany were prepared by Nugent Cachemaille-Day whose designs were strongly influenced by a new church in Coutances, Normandy. The Epiphany was built by Armitage Hodgson of Leeds, the foundation stone being laid on 12 July 1937 by Elsie Burroughs, sister of the late Bishop of Ripon, Rt. Revd. Edward Burroughs who died in 1934. The church was consecrated by the next Bishop of Ripon, Rt. Revd. Dr Geoffrey Lunt, on 14 May 1938 in the presence of the Princess Royal. The full title of the church is “The Bishop Burroughs (of Ripon) Memorial Church”, but it is never used.

Visiting and Facilities

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

Church Website:

www.holytrinitylyonsdown.org.uk

http://www.epiphanyleeds.wordpress.com

Sources and Further Information

Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Anna Thomas (2016) Exterior image of the Church of the Epiphany facing East [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of the Church of the Epiphany facing East
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/3209/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 1 Bell [Archive/Index]
1 Bell
Rob Andrews (12/09/2020) Gipton, Church of the Epiphany [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Gipton, Church of the Epiphany

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: SE 335 353

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Administrative Area

Metropolitan District:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

Leeds District (B)

Location and Setting

This field describes the setting of the church building, i.e. the surroundings in which the church building is experienced, and whether or not it makes a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the building.

The Anglican Church of the Epiphany is a Grade I listed building dominating its site at the junction of Amberton Road and Beech Lane in Gipton, Leeds. 

The settlement of Gipton has a long history dating back to Domesday Book.  It was absorbed into neighbouring Leeds when the city underwent rapid expansion in the Victorian period.  During the 1930s Leeds City Council embarked on a programme of slum clearance from the city centre and Gipton was chosen as the site for one of the North of England's first garden suburbs, which was to include the building of houses, shops and schools.  The first new council houses were completed in 1935, and the following year a temporary Mission Church known as the "tin hut" was opened.

Church Plan

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Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

Provide as written description of the ground plan of the church building and well as its dimensions.

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Dimensions

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Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

680 m2

Description of Archaeology and History

This field aims to record the archaeological potential of the wider area around the building and churchyard, as well as the history of site.

During the 1930s Leeds City Council embarked on a programme of slum clearance from the city centre and Gipton was chosen as the site for one of the North of England's first garden suburbs, which was to include the building of houses, shops and schools.  The first new council houses were completed in 1935, and the following year a temporary Mission Church known as the "tin hut" was opened.

In 1962 a single storey development to the west end of the church provided a church hall which was extended five years later. 

In 2012 the concrete steps at the main entrance to the church were taken up and re-cast, a long concrete ramp was installed and new handrails were fitted, greatly improving the main entrance to the church. Work on the West window was also successfully completed in 2012 and the involvement of English Heritage continued with the project of repairing and refurbishing the windows in the North and South aisles completed in 2014.

Exterior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the exterior of the church building and the churchyard.

Early structural problems included roof panels coming loose because the fixing nails were too short and made of iron rather than copper; the wooden floor tiles rose.  Problems with the acoustics were known as "the Epiphany echo".  Furnishings donated by other churches included the limestone font from St Paulinus’.

In 1962 a single storey development to the west end of the church provided a church hall which was extended five years later.  Current provision is of a large hall with stage, a small hall, a meeting room, kitchen and toilet facilities; access is available both directly and through the church. The church and additional halls provide significant available social space for the community in an area generally deprived of large buildings; they contribute significantly to the activities of schoolchildren, uniformed organisations, local clubs and societies; the church provides a weekly community cafe in the hall and is renowned for hosting and supporting the annual pantomime. The present population of the parish is around 9,500.

A garden area has been  created at the north-west corner of the site, which has a car-park along the south side. The original parsonage house was on Amberton Road, but this was sold in 2008, a   modern vicarage having been built in the 1980s to the south-west of the site, with access from Beech Lane.

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

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Who:
Hill Rowe Partnership
Role:
Architect / Surveyor ICM55
From:
To:
Contribution:

Building Fabric and Features

This field is an index of the building and its major components

Work in progress - can you help?

Building Materials

This field is an index of the building’s material composition

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Interior Image

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Interior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the interior of the church building.

The chancel is barely distinguishable from the nave, under one roof, with an apse of the same height and an ambulatory around.  To the west of the nave are single storey porches to the north and south, and to the east square north and south transepts.  The sanctuary is slightly raised on a circular plinth with simple curved altar rails and built-in furniture.  To the east of the altar and raised by 16 steps is the Lady Chapel, also with a curved east end and originally intended to be dedicated to St Edmund; below is a vestry, meeting room, office, toilets and kitchen, with external access via further north and south porches. This east end arrangement is most impressive, composed of sweeping curves and stepped up in the manner of the French Romanesque church--low semicircle of the Lady Chapel, higher semicircle of the ambulatory, and yet higher pitched roof. The choir galleries are, most unusually, behind the altar, facing the nave on the same level as the Lady Chapel.

The interior, now painted white, is light and spacious with 18.5 m high circular concrete piers supporting flat ceilings, those of the aisles being slightly lower than the nave. .   A small pulpit originally wound round one of the columns but was replaced by a larger one, later removed.  The windows to the North and South are very slim, narrow and straight headed and are placed close together.  The stained glass in the Lady Chapel is by Christopher Webb, depicting the Epiphany stars, with blue the dominant colour. 

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

This field is an index of the building’s internal, architectural components. This includes its internal spaces and those areas’ fixtures and fittings (building components which are securely fixed to the church or cathedral).

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BELL (1 of 1)

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

This field is an index of the building’s movable, non-fixed furnishings and artworks.

Work in progress - can you help?

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: SE 335 353

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Ecology

This field aims to record a description of the ecology of the churchyard and surrounding setting.

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Ecological Designations

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The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

This field aims to record any evidence of the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

The church has no evidence of bats

Burial and War Grave Information

This field records basic information about the presence of a churchyard and its use as a burial ground.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard is closed for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage List for England Designations

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There are no Listed Buildings within the curtilage of this Church.

There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Church.

Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

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Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Church

Churchyard Structures

This field is an index of the churchyard’s components.

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Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Significance is the whole set of reasons why people value a church, whether as a place for worship and mission, as an historic building that is part of the national heritage, as a focus for the local community, as a familiar landmark or for any other reasons.

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Setting Significance Description:
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Fabric Significance Level:
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Fabric Significance Description:
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Interior Significance Level:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
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Interior Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
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Community Significance Level:
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Community Significance Description:
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Church Renewables

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Open the map of church renewable installations
Solar PV Panels:

This information forms part of the Shrinking the Footprint project.

No
Solar Thermal Panels:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Bio Mass:
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No
Air Source Heat Pump:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
Ground Source Heat Pump:
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No
Wind Turbine:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
EV Car Charging:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Unknown

Species Summary

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All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

CategoryTotal species recorded to date
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED 1
Total number of animal species 1
Total number of plant species 0
Total number of mammal species 0
Total number of birds 0
Total number of amphibian and reptile species 0
Total number of invertebrate species 2
Total number of fungi species 0
Total number of mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) 0
Total number of ferns 0
Total number of flowering plants 0
Total number of Gymnosperm and Ginkgo 0

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

‘Seek Advice’ Species

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If any of the following species have been seen close to the Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

No species data found for this record

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

The church was the centre of many people’s lives and remains a guide to their cares and concerns. Glimpses into those lives have often come down to us in the stories we heard as children or old photographs discovered in tattered shoe boxes. Perhaps your ancestors even made it into local legend following some fantastic event? You can choose to share those memories with others and record them for future generations on this Forum.

Tell us the story of this building through the lives of those who experienced it. Tell us why this church is important to you and your community.

Upload your photographs, share your videos, or compose your story below using a Facebook, Twitter, Google or Disqus account.

Refresh
WhoActionWhen
Gemma ShearwoodAdded QI inspectionWed 23 Apr 2025 11:07:50
Gemma ShearwoodCreated asset source linkWed 23 Apr 2025 11:07:49
Robert AndrewsAdded image of the exterior of the buildingMon 11 Dec 2023 18:46:56
Robert AndrewsRemoved asset source linkMon 11 Dec 2023 18:45:44
Oliver LackAdded SourceWed 21 Dec 2022 15:47:15
Oliver LackModified asset data - Modified the Archaeology and History DescriptionTue 30 Nov 2021 15:49:05
Oliver LackModified asset data - Modified the Exterior DescriptionTue 30 Nov 2021 15:46:41
Oliver LackModified asset data - Modified the Location and Setting DescriptionTue 30 Nov 2021 15:46:31
Oliver LackModified asset data - Modified the Summary DescriptionTue 30 Nov 2021 15:44:32
Jennifer ReadAdded QI inspectionThu 18 Jun 2020 14:44:33
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