St Hilda
Halifax, Yorkshire
Victorian church which maintains an important link with the Duke of Wellington's regiment.
This Grade II listed church and graveyard with table top memorials stands in the centre of the Sowerby Bridge conservation area. The unusual gallery, memorials and stained glass windows all have tales to tell of how the church has served the town since 1526 despite fires and most recently the Boxing Day floods in 2015.
On display is the original church altar dated 1526, from the earlier Brigg Chapel, and a painting of its rural site near the River Calder. The current larger church was built in 1821 from Ashlar sandstone in a Perpendicular style most of which has been retained with some 20th century reordering and restoration works.
The nave was built with six tall bays with plinth, offset buttresses which rise to pinnacles, with embattled parapets between. Windows are transomed, with tracery, pointed arches under hood moulds with grotesque head stops. After fire broke out destroying the original roof, the new roof is of a large span, of hammer beam trusses dating from 1894, with cusped head sections supported on attached columns. Internally is a horseshoe gallery with panelled front supported on cast iron and timber columns.
The chancel (added 1873-4) has three tall lancet east windows, containing rich stained glass and commemorates those who founded the church. Interior features are a tessellated floor and elaborate Gothic style stone reredos, marble war memorial and wooden chancel screen (1935). The organ is unique, having been restored with components from two other instruments rescued from local closing churches recycled into the original case.
Our west tower (with clock faces on all sides) is a landmark for narrow boats using the canal network. Its original peal of 8 steel bells was removed but following the 2015 Boxing Day floods (when the church opened its doors to help) a modern bell sound system was installed to restore the sound of bells and also act as a flood warning.
The graveyard was closed by order of Secretary to Queen Victoria in 1857 due to concerns of disease. Inscriptions on the table top tombs tell of the mortality rates of the time. We hold community gardening to make it a pleasant place to sit/walk to appreciate the heritage of the town. We serve our community as the 'Support hub' for Sowerby Bridge, providing information, hosting educational and heritage visits and joining in community events.