St Mary the Virgin, Middleton

St Mary the Virgin is a Gothic Revival church with coursed sandstone walls and a slate roof supported by buttresses running along its exterior. The building displays characteristic period features including two-light lancet windows between buttresses and single lancet windows in the chancel.

Construction started in 1846 under architect Robert Dennis Chantrell, supported by public subscriptions and funding from the Society for Church Building. The completed structure became a lasting landmark in the local landscape for more than a century.

The church served as a gathering place for the mining community in the 1800s, with local workers taking part in its construction through donations and labor, making it central to their communal life.

The church is located in Middleton, part of Leeds, and continues to function as an active place of worship with regular services. Visitors should be respectful of any ongoing ceremonies and check opening times before a visit.

Mining operations beneath the building in 1917 caused structural damage, prompting the removal of the original tall spire in 1939. This unusual intervention shows how industrial activity could fundamentally alter the physical form of historic structures.

Location: Leeds

Inception: 1846

Architects: Robert Dennis Chantrell

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

Website: http://stmarysmiddleton.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 53.75190,-1.54330

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:43