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{{Short description|Church of England minster in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England}}
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| name = Halifax Minster
| fullname = Minster and Parish Church of St John the Baptist
| image = Halifax
| imagesize =
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| coordinates = {{Coord|53.72320|-1.85371|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}▼
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▲| coordinates = {{Coord|53.72320|-1.85371|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}
| location =
| country = England
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| dedication = [[St
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| people =
| status = Active
| functional status =
| heritage designation = [[Grade I listed building]]<ref name=Historic>{{NHLE|num=1133928|desc=Church of St John the Baptist|
| designated date =
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| vicar = Canon Hilary Barber
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[[File:Halifax Minster (23rd June 2013).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Halifax Minster with the [[Halifax Town Hall|town hall]] to the right and the surrounding area]]
'''Halifax Minster''' is the [[minster (church)|minster church]] of [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]], [[Calderdale]], [[West Yorkshire]], England. The church is dedicated to [[St John the Baptist]]. The [[parish church]] of the town, it was granted minster status in 2009. Halifax Minster is one of three churches in the county of West Yorkshire to be given this honorific title; the other two are [[Dewsbury Minster]] and [[Leeds Minster]].
Halifax Minster, which stands on the site of an earlier [[Normans|Norman]] church, was built during the 15th century, although the Rokeby and Holdsworth Chapels were not completed until around 1530. The organ was built by [[John Snetzler]] in 1763 and installed in 1766. Other notable features of the church include a medieval font cover, [[Jacobean architecture|Jacobean]] [[box pew]]s, and the tombstone of 19th-century diarist [[Anne Lister]].
==History==
The first church on this spot, thought to date from around 1120, was owned and operated by the [[Cluniac order|Cluniac]] monks of [[Lewes Priory]]. Some portions of the stonework of this church have been incorporated into the present building – most notably the carved chevron stones in the north wall of the nave and elsewhere.<ref name=hargreaves>{{cite book |last=Hargreaves |first=John A. |year=2010 |title=Transactions of the Halifax Antiquarian Society 2010 |chapter=The Minster Church of St John the Baptist, Halifax: The Medieval Foundations |pages=28–9}}</ref> It has been suggested that one section of the north wall was actually the south wall of the Norman church.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.halifaxparishchurch.org.uk/History.htm |title=History |work=Halifax Parish Church |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828070916/http://www.halifaxparishchurch.org.uk/History.htm |archive-date=28 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Bretton |first=Rowland |year=1967 |title=Transactions of the Halifax Antiquarian Society 1967 |chapter=Halifax Parish Church |page=79}}</ref> Several early medieval grave covers also survive.<ref name=hargreaves/>
The present church was built in the fifteenth century, apparently fulfilling a need for "more spacious accommodation for the growing population of the parish".{{sfn|Hargreaves|2010|p=31}} The nave and chancel were completed around 1450.{{sfn|Bretton|1967|p=75}} At some time between 1455 and 1480, the eastern wall was made higher to accommodate a [[clerestory]].{{sfn|Hargreaves|2010|p=31}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Hanson |first=T. W. |year=1920 |url=https://archive.org/details/storyofoldhalifa00hans/page/68/mode/2up |title=The Story of Old Halifax |publisher=F. King and Sons |page=68}}</ref> Work on the church tower began in the 1440s; it took over three decades to complete, as it was still under construction in 1482.{{sfn|Hargreaves|2010|p=31}} The Rokeby and Holdsworth Chapels, built at the expense of former vicars [[William Rokeby]] and Robert Holdsworth, were completed around 1530.{{sfn|Bretton|1967|p=77}} William Rokeby's heart and bowels are buried beneath his chapel, as stipulated in his will.<ref>{{cite book |last=O'Flanagan |first= J. R. |year=1870 |title=The Lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal of Ireland, Volume 1 |location=London |publisher=Longmans, Green and Co |page=157 |url=https://archive.org/details/livesoflordchanc01oflauoft/page/156/mode/2up}}</ref>
Jacobean [[box pew]]s are a prominent feature of the Minster, and most of those in the nave date from 1633 to 1635. They bear some similarity to those at Bolton Percy, and the names of the carpenters involved are known. A pew in the centre aisle bears the remains of a memorial brass to John Waterhouse, who died in 1539/40. The carved arms of Richard Sunderland of High Sunderland, who died in 1634, are attached to another pew. Several ancient pew nameplates may be seen attached to a board on the inner north wall of the tower, the oldest dates to 1615 and reads “This stall made at the cost of Robert Fisher of Halifax.”▼
▲[[Jacobean architecture|Jacobean]] [[box pew]]s are a prominent feature of the Minster, and most of those in the nave date from 1633 to
A small portion of Medieval stained-glass survives in the upper westernmost clerestory window, which was removed from other windows in the mid 19th century. The Puritans who were prominent in the town in the 17th century, thought stained glass with its ‘images’ was an abomination. During the Commonwealth (1649–1660) many plain-glass leaded windows of a unique design were installed, paid for by Mrs Dorothy Waterhouse. Many of these were later replaced by Victorian stained glass, but those that survived in 1958 were carefully rebuilt. At that date there were three of these on each side of the chancel, but now there are five on the south side and only one on the north. The large west window in the tower is a late 19th-century reconstruction of a Commonwealth window dating from 1657, but contains no original work. The great east window of the church depicts the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus, and was completed in 1854. It is the work of [[George Hedgeland]] (1825–98), who exhibited stained glass at the Great Exhibition of 1851. The remaining glass in the Parish Church dates also from the Victorian and Edwardian periods.▼
▲A small portion of
[[File:2007-03-31 1 DWR Halifax (RLH).jpg|thumb|right|View of the font at the rear end of the main aisle]]▼
*The Font Cover is a fine feature surviving from the medieval period, and is acknowledged to be one of the finest in England. The stone font bowl may also date from the 15th century, or earlier. Before 1879 traces of paint could be seen on both font and cover, and it was once most ornately gilded. The cover was originally intended to prevent people from stealing the baptismal water kept in the font, which was supposed to have curative powers.▼
*The wooden [[sedilia]] date in the sanctuary dates from 15th century, and was restored in 1879. It contains three fine [[misericord]]s, and was possibly brought here from some nearby abbey – such as [[Kirkstall Abbey|Kirkstall]] – after Henry VIII’s [[Dissolution of the Monasteries]].▼
*Six other 15th-century misericords, including a “[[green man]]”, are located under the chancel’s return stalls; whilst not so fine as those of the sedilia, they are most interesting.▼
*Very fine late 17th-century altar rails, with a fine double-spiral carving. The altar was first railed-in by 1665, but “banisters in the choir” are mentioned in 1671, and “twisted banisters” in 1698.▼
*A series of painted ceiling panels, representing the heraldry of the vicars and famous families of Halifax Parish. These were originally painted by John Aked and James Hoyle, and were put in place between about 1695 and 1703, but were repainted in the 1820s, and cleaned after the Second World War.▼
*Two Royal Coats of Arms of Queen Anne, dating from 1705. They were carved by the same John Aked, and details as to their cost survive.▼
*The Bishop Ferrar Memorial dating from 1847 is a feature of the western wall of the south aisle. From Halifax Parish, Bishop [[Robert Ferrar]] of St David’s was earlier the last prior of [[Nostell Priory]]. He was burnt at the stake at Carmarthen in 1555. The sculpture is by [[Branwell Brontë]]’s great friend Joseph Bentley Leyland.▼
*A painted bust of John Favour, vicar 1593–1624 is adjacent to the Ferrar Monument. He was a celebrated Physician and Lawyer too; and was the founder of [[Heath Grammar School]], Halifax.▼
*The Wellington Chapel. Halifax was the home of the [[Duke of Wellington's Regiment]], which is now the 3rd battalion of the [[Yorkshire Regiment]]. In 1951 the church’s south choir aisle was adopted by the Regiment as its chapel. Among the Regimental Colours previously displayed were those carried at [[Battle of Waterloo|Waterloo]] and those borne during the [[Crimean War]] and [[Battle of Magdala|Abyssinian campaign]]. These Colours have now been placed in a protective stand of drawers that will remain in the church.▼
*A pulpit on wheels. This was given in 1879 in memory of Archdeacon Charles Musgrave (vicar 1827–75), by members of his family.▼
*On the west wall near the tower is a list of former rectors and vicars. The most famous were Hubert Walter who later became Archbishop of Canterbury, and [[William Rokeby]] who became Archbishop of Dublin.▼
The large west window in the tower is a late 19th-century reconstruction of a Commonwealth window dating from 1657, but contains no original work. The great east window of the church depicts the crucifixion and resurrection of [[Jesus]], and was completed in 1856. It is the work of [[George Hedgeland]] (1825–98), and is based on a design which won first prize for stained glass at the [[Great Exhibition]] of 1851.{{sfn|Bretton|1967|p=78}} The remaining glass in the church dates also from the Victorian and Edwardian periods.
In 1878 and 1879 a great internal [[Victorian restoration|restoration]] of the church took place, initiated by Vicar [[Francis Pigou]] (1875–88), and carried out under the direction of [[George Gilbert Scott]] and his son [[John Oldrid Scott]]. This work involved the removal of galleries, the altering of floor levels, and the removal of plaster from the internal walls.<ref name=Historic/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://halifaxminster.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/History-pages.pdf |title=Over 900 Years of History |publisher=Halifax Minster |accessdate=9 July 2021}}</ref>
A more recent reordering scheme took place in 1983, when pews at the east end of the nave were removed, and a dais installed for the nave altar. At the Millennium after an Appeal, Victorian pews were removed from the west end of the church, to provide an open and attractive reception area, with adjacent fitted kitchen.▼
▲A more recent reordering scheme took place in 1983, when pews at the east end of the nave were removed, and a dais installed for the nave altar. At the
On
▲On Saturday the (31 March 2007) the stand of the 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) Regulation colours, taken out of service in 2002, in [[Osnabrück]], Germany, at the Regiments Tercentenary parade, were laid up in the Parish church. The Colour party, with 2 escorts of 40 troops, Had marched through Halifax from the Town Hall, preceded by the Regimental Drums and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20090222115607/http://www.army.mod.uk/music/corps-band/409.aspx Heavy Cavalry and Cambrai Band]. There was a short ceremony in the Minster grounds where the Troops were inspected by Colin Stout, the then- Mayor of Halifax, and [[Ingrid Roscoe]], [[Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire]].{{Clear}}
The church was granted [[minster (church)|minster]] status on 23 November 2009.<ref name="halifaxcourier">{{cite news|url=http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/We39re-a-Minster-town.5847718.jp |title=We're a Minster town! |work= Halifax Courier |date= 23 November 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126030906/https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/we39re-a-minster-town.5847718.jp |archivedate=26 November 2009}}</ref><ref name="halifaxcourier2">{{cite news|url=http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Halifax-Minster-the-start-of.5852486.jp |title=Halifax Minster: the start of a new era |work= Halifax Courier |date=24 November 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503101802/http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/local/halifax-minster-the-start-of-a-new-era-1-1941653 |archivedate=3 May 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Halifax Minster HDR (7685440132).jpg|thumb|The main nave in Halifax Minster]]▼
==
▲[[File:2007-03-31 1 DWR Halifax (RLH).jpg|thumb|right|View of the font at the rear end of the main aisle]]
▲*The
▲*The wooden [[sedilia]]
▲*Six other 15th-century misericords, including a
▲*
▲*A series of painted ceiling panels, representing the heraldry of the vicars and famous families of Halifax Parish. These were originally painted by
▲*Two Royal Coats of Arms of Queen Anne, dating from 1705. They were carved by
*The alms-box is held by a life-sized wooden effigy known as "Old Tristram", carved by John Aked about 1701. The carving is believed to represent a real person who once begged in the church precincts.{{sfn|Bretton|1967|p=81}}{{sfn|Savage|1908|pages=388–91}}
▲*The Bishop Ferrar Memorial dating from 1847 is a feature of the western wall of the south aisle. From Halifax
▲*A painted bust of [[John Favour
▲*The Wellington Chapel. Halifax was the home of the [[Duke of Wellington's Regiment]], which is now the
▲*A pulpit on wheels. This was given in 1879 in memory of Archdeacon Charles Musgrave (vicar 1827–75), by members of his family.
*The recently rediscovered tombstone of [[Anne Lister]] of [[Shibden Hall]] (1791–1840), a noted local diarist. The stone is damaged and is currently in the Rokeby Chapel.<ref>{{cite web |last=Glover |first=David C. |date=5 June 2019 |url=https://northernlifemagazine.co.uk/the-mystery-of-gentleman-jacks-tombstone/ |title=The Mystery of Gentleman Jack's Tombstone |work=Northern Life}}</ref>
▲*On the west wall near the tower is a list of former rectors and vicars. The most famous were Hubert Walter, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury, and
==Organ==
A specification of the organ can be found on the [https://archive.is/20120713231157/http://npor.rcm.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=D06788 National Pipe Organ Register].▼
The church houses an organ built by [[John Snetzler]], installed in 1766. The organ has been enlarged several times in the 19th and 20th centuries, and was completely rebuilt in 1928 by [[Harrison & Harrison]] of [[Durham, England|Durham]]. Only a small amount of the Snetzler work remains in the present instrument.<ref>{{cite book |last=Houseman |first=J. W. |year=1928 |chapter=History of the Halifax Parish Church Organs |title=Transactions of the Halifax Antiquarian Society 1928 |pages=80–109}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://halifaxminster.org.uk/minster-organs/ |title=Halifax Minster Organs |publisher=Halifax Minister |accessdate=9 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://halifaxminster.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Halifax-Organ-Main-Edit.pdf |title=The Organs of Halifax Minister |publisher=Halifax Minster |accessdate=9 July 2021}}</ref>
===List of organists===
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!class="unsortable"|Previous / Later position
|-
|1766||[[William Herschel]]||afterwards organist at [[Octagon Chapel, Bath]]
|-
| 1766–1819||Thomas Stopford||previously organist at Hey Chapel
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|1862–1868||H. E. Moore
|-
|1868–1882||[[John Varley
|-
|1882–1883||Fred Bentley
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==See also==
*[[Grade I listed churches in West Yorkshire]]
==References==
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==External links==
{{Commons category|Halifax Parish Church}}
* [http://www.halifaxminster.org.uk/
▲
{{Deanery of Halifax churches}}
▲[[Category:Buildings and structures in Halifax, West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Churches in Halifax, West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Anglican Diocese of Leeds|Halifax, St John the Baptist]]
[[Category:Church of England church buildings in West Yorkshire|Halifax, St John the Baptist]]
[[Category:Grade I listed churches in West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Churches dedicated to John the Baptist in England]]
[[Category:Anglican churches dedicated to John the Baptist]]
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