Back to St. Pauls
The Parish church of St Paul, Eastthorpe, Mirfield, originated from a vision of Revd Ralph Maude to make provision for an area of his parish, known as East Thorpe, that was growing fast due to the expansion of the cotton mills and railway.
The original church of St Paul was a mission church that was opened in 1874 and which was sited in the upper storey of the church school, pending the building of a permanent church.
Mr W Simpson Barber of Halifax prepared the plans for the current church and the foundation stone was laid on the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, 25th January 1881.
The building was completed on All Saints Day of the same year and the church was consecrated on 1st November 1881 by Bishop V W Ryan, who went on to become Dean of Westminster.
The church is a Grade 11 listed building situated in the centre of the town and is adjacent to the main A644 Huddersfield Road and is accessed via Calder Road, and the grounds have provided footpath access to the town centre for many years.
St Paul’s was built from stone acquired from the Old Parish Church, which had been pulled down to be replaced by a new building.
The benefactors were Mr E B Wheatley Balme, Mr Charles Wheatley, and Mrs Hague of Crow Nest, Dewsbury, who together provided the whole cost estimated to be £8.000.
A description of the church at that time noted, "this spacious and lofty church, with arcades of monolith granite pillars dividing the aisles from the nave, having unusually good acoustic properties, splendidly built and furnished, with a raised Chancel accommodating dignified ceremonial, excellent tracery in the east window, with choir vestry and meeting room beneath the chancel.
The Tower clock with two faces and chiming quarters was installed in 1882 and converted to electricity in 2000.
The glass in the east and west windows are fine examples of the work of Mr C E Kemp, featuring in the east window the Life of Our Lord and in the west window the Life of St Paul.
A peal of six bells was dedicated in 1883 and sold during the 1993 re-ordering. The granite font situated at the west end was also moved to the side of the high altar at this time.
The new church also boasted a Side Chapel and Lady Chapel and
a later addition included a southwest window dedicated as a war memorial to the men of the town who lost their lives during the first world war, and the flags of two First World War regiments flank the window
In 1993 the church was subjected to major and extensive re-ordering including the removal of choir stalls, pews, pulpit, oak panelling screens and lectern. Some of the oak panelling screens and the oak communion rails were re-sited and the organ and pipes were removed and replaced by an Allen
electronic organ.The south side exterior of the church has a flagged area that fronts the public amenity Eastthorpe Gardens and the old St Paul’s school is now the centre for Eastthorpe Visual Arts.
The present church has a small but growing congregation that offers a friendly welcome for all who choose to worship amongst them or simply call in for a visit or to enjoy refreshments.