Treasures Revealed

LIDGETT PARK METHODIST CHURCH

Lidgett Place, Leeds LS8 1HG

Tel: 0113-266-2066
Email: jvcraske@btconnect.com
Website: www.leedsnemethodist.org.uk/Lidgett.htm

The land on which Lidgett Park Methodist Church stands was part of Lidgett Lane Farm, which stood at the junction of North Park Avenue and Lidgett Lane.  In 1902  an acre was bought by the trustees of Gledhow Wesleyan Church and in 1903 permission was given for a hall, vestry, schoolroom and toilets to be built. All to the west of Lidgett Lane was farmland also due to be developed at some time in the future and the building soon became too small.  In 1910 a scheme was proposed to build a larger church and more land was bought. World War 1 prevented building taking place, but in 1918 it was hoped to raise the money (£7,500) for the new church. One of our current church members even remembers seeing it being built. The foundation stone was laid on 6th December 1924. The church opened 29th May 1926 after costing £12,825. The interior is unusual for the period as the woodwork is natural polished oak and not pitch pine.

The original building, which had become the Sunday Schoolroom, was let to the Education Department during 1938/9 for use as a school while Talbot Road School was being built. In 1945 the Army used it as a feeding centre for troops billeted in the area. After the war the Education Department returned and left in 1950. A stage was added in 1959 and the building now serves as our Community Hall.

An outstanding feature of the church is the stained glass window in the chancel which were added as a war memorial in 1948. Made in the studios of W.F.Cokey & Co. of Belfast, the window is of 7 lights commemorating 4 servicemen who lost their lives in the 1939-45 war and 3 women.   The light on the extreme left depicts Ruth.   The second light depicts the Archangel Michael and remembers Joseph Eric Stephenson who played for Leeds United before the war.   The third light is of Joshua whilst the centre light shows Jesus washing the disciple's feet at the Last Supper.   To the right of this is St. Paul, next comes St. George and lastly an unnamed figure who is likely to be Dorcas as the inscription is from Acts 9.36 referring to Dorcas.   The names of those remembered are shown at the bottom of each light.   (For a fuller description please see the leaflet about the window.)

The original organ was transferred into the new building. The present organ came from Eldon Methodist Church in Woodhouse Lane, opposite the University.  Built by the distinguished Yorkshire organ builders James Jepson Binns of Bramley, it was rebuilt and installed incorporating some of the original organ by Fitton & Haley in 1952. In 1993/4 it was re-furbished by J. Malcolm Spink of Leeds and Peterborough.   We are fortunate the organ has been played for the past 50+ years by David Wilks, our resident organist.

Six years ago the choir stalls on either side of the chancel were removed and the chancel refurbished.   The two new communion tables were made by Phil Wilson, a member of the church, from some of the wood from the stalls.

A Youth Hut was obtained from a village near York a few years after the war and this is now the Scout Hut. In 1960 an extension consisting of kitchen and two meeting rooms was opened. In 1969/70 the Youth Hall, Coffee Bar, new foyer, corridor and toilets were added. The car park was built. Recently we have up-dated the kitchen and toilets, and built a new corridor with extra facilities for the many children' groups using our premises.

Today, the Church is surrounded with housing and provides a centre for many groups throughout the week and not just on Sundays.  Apart from the main church, the remaining buildings enable Lidgett Park to provide services to the community far beyond what those who founded the first church could have imagined.   It is a credit to their vision and imagination in the early 192's that led them to build the present church and to those who, since then, have continued to make this church a place worthy to serve the present age and may we continue to do so.

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