St Peter

This is a fascinating Grade II* church rebuilt by the architect Thomas Taylor (1778-1826) in 1816 to 1819 to serve the rapidly-growing urban population of Huddersfield including the middle-class villages and terraces of Mountjoy Road. However, its origins date back to Domesday and to several local landowning families including the founders of the church, the de Lacy family. Little of this first church survives, as it was rebuilt between 1503-1506, perhaps preserving earlier features of the church including the chancel and aisles. Traces of this second building survive, along with fragments of heraldic stained glass and ledger slabs in the chancel, 16th century font and 17th century font cover.

The present church, however, is largely a product of the early Victorian rebuilding. Under the nave and aisles is a large crypt and around the walls are the remains of Victorian galleries. The present building was designed by JP Pritchett and was built in 1836, a magnificent 135 foot tower dominates the skyline. The tower was built higher than normal proportions to allow the clock to be seen from all aspects of the town. Pritchett was a leading nonconformist chapel builder and the original internal layout was that of a Georgian preaching house. The building was reordered in 1955 by Peter Wright and Martin Phelps, when many of the Victorian fittings and fixtures were removed. Today, the view from the west end of the church is dominated by the ‘baldachino’ - a painted and gilded screen behind the altar which was created as a First World War Memorial in and designed by the famous early 20th century architect Sir Ninian Comper. Other highlights of the church building include its arch braced roof and painted roof bosses, choir stalls and organ, ‘Mousy’ Thompson furniture and screen in the Leeper Chapel.

Today, the church offers a warm welcome to all, with regular services, outreach activities and a wonderful cafe in the crypt, together with facilities for hire by local creative and charitable groups.