For a full detailed account of the history of St.Bartholomew's Church, Armley, see:
www.armley-schulze.freeserve.co.uk/Church_Hist.htm - from which the following is extracted:
. . . it was 1630 before a chapel was built in Armley, and 1674 before it was consecrated by the Archbishop of York. The Chapel was a small building on one level, and we have been able to make a reasonable guess as to its original layout using floor plans of the developing Chapel dug out of the Lambeth Palace library website and eliminating the reported extensions. Thus the 1630 Chapel must have looked like this:
In 1737 drastic changes were made to the Chapel. It was extended out to the north, the roof was raised and a small balcony added at the west end.
In 1825, the chapel received permission for massive alterations . . . The chapel now looked as if the original ground plan of 1630 had been cloned and built on to the side [see photo below]
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Armley photo 1 (right) : Undated (before 1909), Old Church of Armley thought in part to date back to 1630. It was demolished around 1909. St. Bartholomews was built to the south and consecreted in 1877.
- from Leeds Photographic Archives (Leeds City Council) click link for larger pictures, comments and to buy prints.
Armley photo 2 (left):Undated. View of St. Bartholomew's Church on Wesley Road which is out of view to the left of the church. The photograph was taken before the erection of the porches, turrets and tower. St. Bartholomew's was consecrated in 1877 but the tower was not dedicated until 1904. The church was constructed of Horsforth sandstone and the architects were Walker and Atherton of Leeds. Beyond the church to the right of the photograph the Old Chapel can be seen. The graveyard can be seen in the foreground.
- from Leeds Photographic Archives (Leeds City Council) click link for larger pictures, comments and to buy prints.
Armley photo 3 (right) : (between 1877-1909). Postcard view of St Bartholomew's Church and graveyard with the Old Chapel to the left.
- from Leeds Photographic Archives (Leeds City Council) click link for larger pictures, comments and to buy prints.
Armley photo 4 (left): 11th December 1947. Picture shows part of the graveyard of St. Bartholomew's Church on Church Road and Strawberry Lane. Houses are visible in the background. (the area to the left of where the chapel had been in the photos above, the foundations of the chapel remained)
- from Leeds Photographic Archives (Leeds City Council) click link for larger pictures, comments and to buy prints.
Armley photo 5 (right) : Undated, Postcard view of St Bartholomew's Church. Built to replace a previous church, the foundation stone was laid in 1872. It was consecrated in August 1877. The architects were Walker and Atherton of Leeds, the church was constructed of Horsforth sandstone. It was not completed for many years, the tower, porches west turrets, boundary wall and Lychgate were all later additions. In 1879 the famous Schulze organ was donated and installed.
- from Leeds Photographic Archives (Leeds City Council) click link for larger pictures, comments and to buy prints.
Armley photo 5: Undated, Postcard view showing the interior of St Bartholomew's Church. this is looking towards the alter, on the left part of the famous Schulze organ is visible. The organ was built by the Schulze brothers of Paulinzella, Germany, but not originally for St Bartholomews. It had been commissioned by Thomas Stuart Kennedy of Meanwood who was in the process of having a new house built by Pugin at Meanwood. This was Meanwood Towers, Mrs Kennedy was a proficient organist and Kennedy wanted an instrument in the house for her. In 1886 he was on holiday in Switzerland and decided to visit the Schulze brothers in person, where negotiations began to build the instrument. It was built in Germany and Edmund Schulze came to Meanwood to fit the organ into a specially built area. In 1870 the first recital was given. A few and it was decided to sell the organ. Two Harrogate ladies bought it and it was transferred on loan to St Peter's Church, Harrogate. Unfortunately, the music sounded muffled the Misses Carter were asked to give it permanently to the Church or remove it. They chose to sell it. Mr W.H. Eyres bought it to present to St Bartholomews. A new case and screen were built to house it, designed by Athron and Walker Church architects. Edward Schulze installed the organ in the church, the first recital was in 1879. Periodically, remedial work has been done to maintain the instrument.
- from Leeds Photographic Archives (Leeds City Council) click link for larger pictures, comments and to buy prints. More photos below from the same source:
