The Parish Church of St Martin, Brighouse – Brighouse parish church – is a landmark for anyone approaching the town from the M62.
This Foldout looks at some aspects of the church and its history
| General History |
Brighouse Parish Church of St Martin was designed by F. Lees Hammerton and built under the Million Pound Act which provided money to build churches in industrial areas.
The foundation stone was laid by Rev Charles Musgrave on 22nd March 1830.
It was consecrated by Archbishop Vernon Harcourt of York on 26th September 1831.
The original cost of £3,514 was covered by the grant of £3600. The church could accommodate 1,100 people.
It was originally within the Diocese of York. In 1836, it became part of the Diocese of Ripon, and in 1888 it became part of the new Diocese of Wakefield.
The first baptism was that of Sarah Higham.
The first marriage was that of Peter Radcliffe and Mary Ann Brook.
The first burial was that of a man who had drowned himself in the Calder.
The clock was added in 1846. It originally had only 3 faces, and these were by Charles Brown of Selby. The 4th face was the gift of George Higham.
Look for the William Morris window [1820], and the east window with figures of the saints. The stained glass east window was finished in 1856 in memory of John Brooke, with other windows in memory of his son.
The burial ground was becoming overcrowded and in 1869, there were many complaints of people being buried in the wrong grave. In 1871, land was bought for a new Brighouse Cemetery.
In 1880, a brass eagle lectern and silver Communion plate were given in memory of the wife of Rev William Booker. In 1895, the old box pews were removed. The font was moved in 18??.
From the very beginning, the interior was considered ugly and there were soon moves to improve the chancel. In 1894, there were proposals for altering the structure and for the building of a chancel. Charles Hodgson Fowler designed the chancel, nave, reredos, and west tower of St Martin's Church, Brighouse [1903]. Mrs Kaye Aspinall gave money for the new chancel and laid the memorial stone on 18th July 1903. A glass jar inside the stone contains coins of the time, and copies of the Yorkshire Post, the Brighouse Echo, and the Parish Magazine of June 1903.
In July 1904, the galleries were removed and the organ was enlarged and moved.
The new chancel and the changes were completed and the church was again consecrated by Dr Eden, the Bishop of Wakefield on 12th December 1904. The nave, west tower and chancel are by C. Hodgson Fowler.
In 1913, a reredos – designed by C. Hodgson Fowler – was built in memory of Sarah Elizabeth Sugden. On 12th October 1913, a new pulpit was presented to the church by Matthew Wood, in memory of his wife.
On 20th January 1918, pew rents were abolished at the Church.
The parsonage – which gave its name to Parsonage Lane stands next to the church.
St Martin's National School was built just below the church in 1835.
In 2000, plans were put forward – and around £500,000 sought – for revitalising the church; the proposals included installing under-floor heating, extending the balcony, replacing the pews with chairs, and setting the altar in a wider, stage-like setting for alternative worship, music and drama. The refurbishments were complete in summer 2002.
The Parish Church of St James opened at Wellholme Park in 1870.
In 2004, there were proposals to hand over the maintenance of the graveyard – which is full and has not been used for some time – over to Calderdale Council.
The records for the Church are held at the West Yorkshire Archive Service office in Wakefield (Collection WDP76): Baptisms [1831-1985], Banns [1875-1981], Marriages [1837-1970] and Burials [1831-1968].
Page Ref: MMP876
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