Narthex Panelling and Door

The extensive panelling on either side of the door from the porch into the Narthex was done in memory of Edwin and Sarah Ann Lee who lived in Paul’s Road and who left the sum of £1,000 for the benefit of the poor of the parish (The Lee Charity).

This work included the doors and vestibule to screen off the porch from the church. On the right as one enters are two elevated seats for the churchwardens which “have long been desired.” These had caved pew fronts for books.

On the left is a recess for the Font (which, since the Font was moved, is now the bookstall.) Gas lights were provided at either side. The panelling dates from 1908. It was designed by the firm of Messrs. W Wilcock & Son of Bradford and the work done by Mr Sam Dibb of Shipley

 The Royal Arms

In the arch in the back (west) wall of the church above the Narthex are the Royal Arms. The displaying of the arms of the monarch is quite ancient. In the time of Henry VIIIth, following the break with Rome and the king’s supremacy in the Church of England, it became the practice to have the Royal Arms in the church. This varied until the Restoration in 1660, at which time display again became usual. This continued until Victorian times, following which the practice declined.. The Royal Arms probably were given near the time of opening and are so about the only piece of original church furniture left.

There are some intriguing things about the Royal Arms in St Paul’s. First the date: Royal Arms change over time. St Paul’s was opened in 1826, during the reign of George IVth (1820-1830) and one would expect his Royal Arms. They appear, however, to be from the previous period of 1801-1816 at the time of George IIIrd. Secondly, the Arms in churches are usually rectangular but these are a lozenge shape, more normally used for funeral “hatchments”.

Rev J F Longrigg

Rev John Fallowfield Longrigg M.A. was Curate at St Paul’s from 1885 to 1887 (joined by Rev A Middleton in 1886). He was probably responsible for the Mission House at 129 Hargreaves Square as well as general duties. He lived at 58 Thompson Street.

Whilst he was curate at Shipley Parish Church, Rev Longrigg instituted the poor children’s annual Christmas dinner. This was still going in the first World War. He was appointed as vicar of Emmanuel Church, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds and inducted there on 1st November 1887. His death, less than a year after in September 1888, came as a shock. This mural of white marble set on a slab of Empress red marble, was the work of Appleyard, a sculptor of Leeds and put up in April 1890.

Boer War (O’Donnell, Lister and Jowett)

The memorial (“erected by the inhabitants of Shipley”) records the names of 3 soldiers killed in the 2nd Boer War (1899-1902): It was unveiled and dedicated by the Lord Bishop of Ripon at 4.45pm on Saturday 4th April 1903 . The ceremony was attended by the Band and members of the 2nd West Yorkshire (Prince of Wales’ Own) Rifle Volunteers in their scarlet jackets, and the Deputy Lieutenant of the County, as well as many inhabitants of Shipley.

Herbert O’Donnell was born in Shipley in 1880. His father was Bradford born Michael O’Donnell, his mother, Hannah, was from Norfolk and in 1881 he had two brothers, John and James. The family lived at 2 Albert Terrace. In 1901, O’Donnell was a Lance Corporal in the 3rd Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regt, in the South Africa Field Force. Aged 21 when killed, his death is recorded as at Nonskraal, where on Christmas Day 1901 a baggage train was attacked and captured by the Boers. Four, including the Officer and O’Donnell were killed, 5 wounded and 57 taken prisoner. He is buried nearby to the battle.

Higson Lister was born in Shipley 1877 to Hannah and her husband George Lister, a butcher of 32 Briggate, Shipley. In 1891, Higson was the middle of three sons At some point he joined the Shipley Division of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade, and was posted to South Africa. He died of ‘Enteric’ or typhoid fever. (This was a problem in hot climates. In the Boer Wars more soldiers died of typhus than in battle). Pte Lister is buried in the Churchyard in St John the Baptist Church, Pinetown, a town in KwaZulu-Natal near to Durban, which contains 44 graves of soldiers who died in the nearby Princess Christian Hospital.

Albert Jowett was born in 1875 in Shipley and in 1891 was living at 152 George Street, Saltaire with his parents, Jesse Jowett (39) a dyer, Sarah Ann (42) a weaver and three siblings; Elizabeth (12), Arthur (8) and Wilfred (1) He joined the 2nd Battalion KOYLI as a private. The KOYLI was in South Africa when the second Boer war broke out, having been brought from Mauritius. Arthur too died of enteric and is buried at Elandsfontein where there was a hospital and where the Battalion may have been based for a while.

Timothy Stocks

The monument to Timothy Stocks was given by Mary, Countess of Rosse. Mary was the elder daughter of John Wilmer Field and Timothy Stocks was Field’s steward. Hence Mary would have known him all her life. Stocks was born in 1788. As steward he had the responsibility of running the estates.

Until 1865, St Paul’s was the parish church of Heaton. Stocks had standing in the community and served as Overseer for the Poor Law and on a Grand Jury, he subscribed to the Bradford Hospital and gave to charity.

He lived in part of a new wing at Heaton Hall with an extended family and in charge of the servants. Following Field’s death, Stocks remained as agent for the Countess of Rosse. Timothy Stocks died in 1868 at the age of 80 and is buried with other members of his family in St Paul’s Churchyard.

Annie Gell Rhodes

The 1911 census suggests that she was married to Frank William Rhodes and lived in West Riding. A “Faithful worshipper” Annie died in November 1946 and is interred in Hirst Wood cemetery.

Frederick Smart

Mr Smart, was headmaster of the parish Church Day schools for 27 years which position “he filled with excellent ability”.  It was said that his schools were renowned for their superb qualities throughout the district.  He was above all things a true and faithful servant of Jesus Christ and his Church.  He died in Leeds on 20^th  February 1921 after being operated on for an internal complaint.

Peel Family

The Peel family lived at Crag Cottage in Windhill. The father, William Peel was born on 14 June 1788 near Laycock, an ancient village west of Keighley.

His brother John, eight years older, established some kind of woollen manufacturing business in Windhill and William may have been involved in it. The brothers were listed at Windhill as Woollen Cloth Manufacturers in Baines’1822 Trade Directory.

They married sisters Elizabeth and Rebecca Bateson and William and Rebecca’s only child, Henrietta Maria, was born in 1820. Rebecca died in 1830. Henrietta was educated at the Moravian school at Fulneck and then by a governess. She looked after her father’s house. Henrietta Peel died in 1863. Her father continued to live at Crag Cottage but was bankrupted when, due to fraud, the Leeds Banking Company collapsed.

William owned partly paid shares. He had to surrender all his assets and was ruined. He went to live at Kildwick and died in late 1866, aged 78. He was buried in the family vault at St Paul’s Church, Shipley.

Benjamin Firth F.C.C.M.

F.G.C.M. stands for Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians. which “exists to encourage all musicians within the church, whether amateur or professional,” Until 1988 the membership was mainly Anglican. Benjamin Firth was born in Idle (presumably Windhill as he lived there aged 4, and which was part of Idle district at that time). He was associated with St Paul’s for all his life.

Benjamin’s father (Joseph) had been the organist at St Paul’s before him for 33 years, and Benjamin took over from him at the age of 18 years. It was said that during his time in office (45 years) he only missed one Sunday due to illness.

In 1870 he married Alice Caroline PARKER. They lived in various parts of Shipley with their three children. An index to Yorkshire wills 1901-1920 gives the occupation of Benjamin Firth, died 1910, as “professor of music”.

The music on the mural tablet is from The Messiah by George Frederick Handel.

William Kelly B.A 

Reverend William Kelly M.A. was born circa 1816 at Ireland. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin 1837-8 and was ordained by the Bishop of Ripon in 1842. Vicar of St Paul’s, Shipley, from 1845 – 1884, at 38 years the longest serving vicar. He married Sarah Eleanor Raywood in 1851 at Barnsley, Yorkshire, England. He died in 1884 at Llandudno, Wales, aged 68. Buried in St Paul’s churchyard.

It was said that he was “widely respected and endeared himself by his tact and kindliness.” Also he was a faithful preacher and a man of genial and uniform temperament, which gained him many friends. A window in the South Aisle also recalls his memory.