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Illustrated copies of this guide are available at the
back of Church
The Church was dedicated on
the 28 November 1881 when a procession of clergy, choir and building
committee members entered the church from the Puritan Chapel where they had
previously worshipped. Village people had subscribed
£2000 towards the cost of the building and James Rhodes of Bramhope Hall had
donated the site. In the church are many gifts which have often been given in
memory of a loved one. As you look around, it becomes obvious that much time and
effort has been given by generations expressing their love in this way. The
tradition continues today.
By the main entrance to the church
through the wooden portcullis and modern glass doors are the
engraved emblems of the Ripon and Leeds Diocese to which St.
Giles belongs.
Near the main
entrance the stone font is in the customary position in English
churches. A member of the congregation crafted its wooden cover. Today
Baptisms are conducted at the front of the church and
so the portable oak font is used. On this font is a
carved mouse, the trade-mark of Robert Thompson of Kilburn. Several
other items in the Church have been made at this workshop and bear Thompson's mouse. The windows behind the font carry the inscription: `He shall
give his angels charge over Thee'. The angel’s foot is a
little strange - it has six toes.
In the glass
topped table is a gift from a member of the congregation, the Memorial
Book, where names of past worshippers are placed.
At the West end
of the main aisle is an oak bench, given in memory of a
churchwarden. You can look from the Nave, through the Chancel towards
the Sanctuary where the Altar and impressive East window are.
Stout pillars with decorated capitals support the arches on the
left-hand side of the Nave and on the far left you can see the arcade
of the north aisle. But where is the south arcade? Buildings in the
architectural style of the Early English Period were generally balanced
and the architects of St Giles did allow for a south aisle and west
tower in future developments. During the 1970’s this was considered but
in the end it was decided to build the Chapel of All Saints to the
south instead.
Much of the stained
glass was in place within five years of the dedication ceremony.
Stained glass in churches is used to portray Bible stories which was
particularly necessary when few people could read.
The North aisle
windows demonstrate this visual aid very clearly. On the second
window we have the words spoken by Jesus about Nathaniel, “Behold an
Israelite in whom there is no guile.” The next window depicts the child
Jesus in the carpenter’s shop with Joseph and Mary. The window at the
end of the North aisle shows Jesus in the Temple.
In the North Aisle, the
banner enclosed in the glass case represents the St. Giles Branch
of the Mothers’ Union. This organisation not only reaches out into the
community but it is part of a worldwide organisation. The MU is
only one of the many caring groups within this lively, active Church.
Resting in the corner is the old flag of the British Legion, a newer
one now being used on Remembrance Sunday at the Village memorial and a Joint Service with the
Methodist Church.
At the front
of the nave is the pulpit
depicting the figures Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. From here we
receive sermons often based on a text from the scriptures. The Church
moves on and looks to our needs today in the changing world.
The steps lead to the
Chancel
with the archway supported by angels. The handrail, another
thoughtful gift, is a great help to many going up to Communion. On each
side are the choir stalls. The Choristers, Organist and fine organ help
us to lift up our hearts in praise. Originally music was provided by a
harmonium but the present organ was installed in 1908: it was
hand pumped, the pay for operating the bellows being £1 per
annum! The organ has been powered by electricity since 1945.
The Processional
Cross,
which you see at the end of the choir stall was a gift from the
congregation, to mark fifty years service by a former chorister. The
two windows on the North wall of the Chancel show the arrest of Jesus
and the scene at Golgotha.
The oak panelling in the
Chancel predates the panelling behind the Altar in the
Sanctuary.
The Altar is a reminder of the table used at the Last Supper. It
is used today for the consecration of the bread and wine at Holy
Communion and the Altar frontal is changed according to the Church
Calendar. The candlesticks, crafted by the famous ‘Mouseman’
were added at a later date.
The Reredos behind
the Altar, has three panels. The centre one is of the Nativity, with St
Peter and St. Paul, the two greatest missionaries, on the left and
right. The Reredos is a memorial to Frances Elizabeth Ellershaw,
of Bramhope who went to Central Africa as a Missionary. She died in
Likoma in 1897. St Giles more recently supported Malcolm and Veronica
White, who served the Church Missionary Society in Amman, Jordan. The Sanctuary windows draw our
attention. The North window shows the Garden of Gethsemane, the East
window depicts the Crucifixion and the South window shows the
Resurrection. To the left of the Altar is the Bishop’s Chair, to the
right a Credence Table. The Altar Rail is of evergreen oak, cut
from a famous tree at Elston in Nottinghamshire, which had been struck
by lightning.
The main West window commemorates
the Founders of this building. On the left is St. Giles who was a
hermit living in the Arles region of France. His particular concerns
were for cripples and the poor, appropriate as St Giles Church is
situated on a plot of land formerly called Cripple Garth. On the right
window is St Cuthbert, a saint of Northumbria.
In the Nave, on the
front right, is a prayer bench, a memorial commemorating the life of an
Airman killed in 1941. Next to it is the Lectern, with its new
Bible, given in memory of a member of the congregation. The South
wall windows are unusual and tell the story of Ruth, taken from the eighth book of
the Old Testament and are considered particularly fine.
Below the West window
is the Memorial to the Fallen of Two World Wars and flanking
this are the
Churchwardens boards, a recent gift. On the left hand side of the
door leading to the lobby is the Incumbents or Vicar’s board.
To the right of the door, we have photographs of our present Vicar
and other key church officers.
The doorway leads
through to the lobby. On the left is the Chapel of All Saints,
a restful place designed to meet the needs of the weekday
congregations. It was consecrated on the 6th August 1981 in
St Giles' centenary year. The Altar and Reading Desk came from St
Matthews Church, Holbeck when it closed. Of particular note are the
kneelers, embroidered by members of the congregation. Their names can
be found to the left of the doorway.
The Church Hall, built in 1977 with its
well equipped kitchen, contributes a great deal to the the parishioners’ social
life. It was built to replace the old original hall which is still in existence
and used as a committee room.
Outside the church is a well-kept garden,
with the Millennium Benches, in memory of a generous benefactor and the
Millennium Yew Tree, a cutting from a tree believed to be 2000 years old. It is
near the front gate: may it grow there for centuries.
Finally, above the west gable is the bell which came from the Puritan
Chapel. Ringing out an invitation to worship for over three hundred
years, it is worthy of the last word……………
Visitors to the church can find a slightly
fuller account in the form of a guided tour, written by Jim Hogg.
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