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Services at St Giles

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Guide to St Giles Church

Illustrated copies of this guide are available at the back of the 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.

Entering the church by the wooden portcullis and modern glass doors you will notice 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 during a Sunday service, in front of the whole congregation, who welcome the child or adult into the church family and so the portable oak font is used. On this font you will see a carved mouse, the trade-mark of Robert Thompson of Kilburn. Several items in the Church have been made at this workshop. Look for the mouse elsewhere. The windows behind the font carry the inscription: `He shall give his angels charge over Thee.` Examine the angel’s foot, it is a little strange.

Stand at the West end of the main aisle, alongside the 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 Joint Service with the Methodist Church.

 In the glass topped table is a gift from a member of the congregation, the Memorial Book, where names of past worshippers can be placed. 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 still supports the Church Missionary Society: our present link is with Malcolm and Veronica White, who are serving 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.

Before leaving the Chancel, pause to look down the aisle at the main West window commemorating 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 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 the 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 6^th 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.

On re-entering the lobby study the aerial photograph on the right. This shows the church and its numerous buildings and grounds. 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.

Weather permitting, take a walk round the well kept garden. Enjoy the view from the Millennium Benches, in memory of a generous benefactor. See 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, it is necessary to mention the bell in the gable which came from the Puritan Chapel. Ringing out an invitation to worship for over three hundred years, it is worthy of the last word……………   

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