We are blessed with a wonderful church building that greatly enhances our worship.

The church is Grade II* listed and dates from 1879, designed by the influential Victorian architect Richard Norman Shaw.  The building is cut into the hillside on the edge of Ilkley Moor and has a monumental character when approached from the town.  The interior of the church is wide and spacious, and the clever design of large windows surmounted by a large clerestory allows a generous amount of light into the church, often falling directly onto the high altar during the spring and summer months.

The church is notable for the extent of its late 19th and early 20th Century fittings, including an opulent gilded wooden triptych reredos (1925), chancel screen with rood figures (1926), and stained-glass windows.  The great west and east windows are integral to Shaw’s design, and were executed by Powell and Sons (1897).  The same company made much of the glass in the building, important exceptions being the ‘Incarnation Window’ designed by Martin Travers, a pupil of Sir Ninian Comper (1937), and a pair of windows from the workshop of William Morris and Co. to a design by Edward Burne-Jones (1902).

Surrounding the interior space is a set of Stations of the Cross by Faith Craft Studios (1928), which are brightly painted square plaster panels in wood frames.  The communion rail, candlestands, vicars’ board and some other fixtures are by Thompson of Kilburn, with attendant mice!

The organ is a large and fine four-manual instrument by William Hill and Son (1901, enlarged 1980 by John T Jackson and Son).  More recent additions include a beautiful painting by renowned local artist and member of the congregation, Graeme Willson, in Shaw’s large carved wooden baptistry at the west end of the church, the ‘Madonna of the Moors’ (2002).  The interior fixtures are notable for their quality, intactness and cohesion, and Ilkley is worth a visit for the church alone.

Below is a recent booklet with high-quality photographs and descriptions of the church windows.  More information will be coming soon.