The Church of All Saints in
Pontefract
Pontefract is a historic market town in the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district in West Yorkshire, England. It lies to the east of Wakefield and south of Castleford. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is one of the ...
,
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and De ...
, England is an active
Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...
parish church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...
in the archdeaconry of Pontefract and the
Diocese of Leeds. The church consists of two structures, an outer church constructed in the 14th and 15th century and ruined in the
English Civil War
The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...
and a smaller inner church completed in the late 1960s. The church has been
Grade II* listed
In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...
since 29 July 1950. The church is one of two Anglican churches in the town centre; the other being
St Giles'.
History
The outer structure dates from the 14th and 15th century. The church was held by the
Royalists at the beginning of the
English Civil War
The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...
; in December 1644 the
Parliamentarians besieged the church which was held by the Royalists armed with 11 cannons. In the siege by Parliamentarians, the church suffered extensive damage with 60 18lb cannonballs being fired in one day from Monkhill. In June 1645, the church now under the occupation of Parliamentarians was besieged by Royalists who occupied
Pontefract Castle
Pontefract (or Pomfret) Castle is a castle ruin in the town of Pontefract, in West Yorkshire, England. King Richard II of England, Richard II is thought to have died there. It was the site of a series of famous sieges during the 17th-cent ...
. In defending the church the Parliamentarians made defenses within the already ruined church and pillaged the church of its materials. By 1649 the church roof had been completely removed.
Architectural style
Exterior
14th- and 15th-century outer church
The outer church is of 14th- and 15th-century origins and is largely ruinous. Alterations were made to the ruins in 1838. The outer church is of a cruciform plan; built of Ashlar sandstone with some rendering. The ruined nave with north and south porches contains the newer structure. The ruined structure has an octagonal tower added in the 18th century. There is a heavily ruined aisled chancel with a 19th-century inserted sanctuary. The south aisle of the nave has four bays with a porch in the second. The nave has a south
clerestory
A clerestory ( ; , also clearstory, clearstorey, or overstorey; from Old French ''cler estor'') is a high section of wall that contains windows above eye-level. Its purpose is to admit light, fresh air, or both.
Historically, a ''clerestory' ...
with four windows of twin trefoiled lights with a continuous
hoodmould. The west end of the nave is buttressed flank with a four-centred arched doorway. The North nave is as the south with a two-storey porch in the second bay. The central tower has paired windows each with two trefoiled lights with a quatrefoil in the arch and hoodmoulds. The tower has a clock face
in an ogee crocketed canopy.
20th-century inner church
The inner church was completed in 1967 to a design by
George Pace.
It is of brick construction with a pitched roof. The front is adorned with five medieval heads.
Interior
14th- and 15th-century outer church
The nave has arcades with octagonal piers and pointed arches. The nave is built over with the 1967 church obscuring much of the floor plan.
20th-century inner church
The inner church was completed in 1967; it contained Victorian pews, which have since been replaced. The south chancel aisle has an ogee-headed tomb niche. The north and south walls have offset windows and the roof skylights, positioned so not to be obscured by the ruins of the outer church. The walls are whitewashed. There is a mezzanine above the entrance with a pipe organ positioned on top. There is an octagonal stone font.
Location and access
The church is located on North Baileygate; separated from the town centre by Pontefract Castle which lies to the west. The closest railway station is
Pontefract Monkhill which is situated around a quarter of a mile from the church.
See also
*
Grade II* listed buildings in West Yorkshire
The county of West Yorkshire is divided into five metropolitan boroughs. The metropolitan boroughs of West Yorkshire are Leeds, Wakefield, Kirklees, Calderdale and Bradford
Bradford is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in West Yor ...
*
Listed buildings in Pontefract
*
St George in the East - a London church ruined in the Blitz, with a modern church constructed within
References
External links
A Church Near You - All Saints' Pontefract*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pontefract, All Saints
All Saints
Listed buildings in Pontefract
Anglican Diocese of Leeds
Church of England church buildings in West Yorkshire
Grade II* listed churches in West Yorkshire