Todmorden Unitarian Church

Todmorden, West Yorkshire | Listed Grade I

Transport

Todmorden station is on the Leeds–Manchester Victoria line (via Halifax and Rochdale). It is possible to take a from the Preston/Burnley direction and get to Todmorden, by changing trains one station away at Hebden Bridge.

History and Architecture

Todmorden Unitarian Church was built between 1865 and 1869, near the meeting house, in memory of John Fielden (1784–1849), a wealthy philanthropist, cotton manufacturer and Member of Parliament. The cost of the new church was borne by his three sons. The architect was the eminent John Gibson (1817–92) who also designed Dobroyd Castle and the famous classical Town Hall.

The Victorian gothic church is set amid moorland scenery on a steeply sloping site, surrounded by ornamental gardens, and with a commanding tower and spire. There is a large, wooded graveyard, which is extensively landscaped.

Inside, the nave is long and aisled with arcades standing on circular piers of polished stone. The chancel is richly elaborated and furnished with choirstalls, a communion table, and brass light fittings. The font and pulpit are of outstanding quality. The stained glass was designed by J.B. Capronnier, the Brussels glazier. In the tower is a peal of eight bells, a carillon and clock.

Christopher Stell, a national authority on Nonconformist architecture and HCT Trustee, comments that "as an example of High Victorian church architecture, this bears comparison with some of the best buildings of the Established Church; as representing the Nonconformist architecture of its period, it is unrivalled".

Repair and Regeneration

HCT has completed a £1 million repair programme at Todmorden, embracing

  • the repair of the church roofs and stained glass
  • the rehabilitation of the listed lodge and the refurbishment of the interior of the tower
  • repair of the clock and carillon 
  • restoration of the historic landscape
  • installation of anew heating system and electrics,together with wcs and a kitchen.

HCT has acquired the design drawings (cartoons) for the outstanding 19th-century stained glass in the chancel. Gibson commissioned the designs from the "atelier" of the celebrated Brussels glazier, Jean-Baptist Capronnier (1814-1891) who created many windows for English and continental churches, cathedrals and public buildings.

Supporting Todmorden Unitarian Church

A regular working party of volunteers undertakes landscape maintenance works in the gardens and grounds from 1pm on the third Sunday of each month. Further volunteers are most welcome.

The church can  be hired.

A guide, written by John Crabbe, is available from HCT office and in Todmorden.