ST Bartholomew's Church, Meltham - grade II listed
Classical church on site of church of 1651. 1782-6. Thought to be
by Joseph Jagger. Tower and north transept added 1835 by J P Pritchett.
Neo-Norman chancel added 1877-8 by John Kirk. Tower and nave, ashlar
with raised quoins. Chancel, hammer dressed stone. Stone slate roof
with gable copings on square kneelers. Moulded eaves cornice. Two
storey nave with band between floors. 6-bay nave, 2-bay chancel,
square west tower. Single light windows to nave, 4 to ground floor,
south side, and doorway to left and right with architrave, pulvinated
frieze and cornce. 3-bay transept on north side, one bay deep, with
single light windows, as nave, and oculus in gable apex. Chancel has
slender round arched single lights with hood moulds. The east window
has 3 equal round headed slender single lights with colonnettes with
broad foliated capitals. Group of 3 small round-arched lights in
gable apex. 3-tier west tower has blind round-arched windows in recess
to 2nd tier. Tall 3-light, louvred bell chamber openings. Corner
pilasters to bell chamber, supporting architrave, frieze and cornice,
with blocking course and 4 large urns.
Interior. Gallery to rear and north over aisle, on slender cast iron
columns. Panelled gallery fronts with balustrade. Wood panelled
coffered ceiling. Round chancel arch on paired, squat, red granite
colonnettes. Neo-Norman font presented 1878. Various early and mid
C19 wall memorials including one to James Brook, d. 1845 by H Mares,
depicting kneeling woman by an altar.
In just seven months St Bartholomew’s Church, Meltham, raised £35,000 to restore the tower of the Grade II listed building. The church clock, a central feature in the village, stopped 18 months ago. Church-goers, admirers of the historic building and village businesses rallied round. They included regulars at The Travellers Rest in Slaithwaite Road. They organised fundraising events and have just donated £1,500. And the church on Greens End Road has qualified for a £92,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, after raising the remaining £35,000 itself. The work, which began two months ago, is expected to be finished in early spring. But before the repair work could start, the tower needed major work to fix the weathered masonry, stop water seepage and make access to the structure safer. As well as making donations, the St Bartholomew’s congregation held fundraising events including gigs and parachute jumps. Meanwhile shops and supermarkets, groups and organisations, local bands and choirs, youth groups and other business bolstered worshippers’ efforts. Meltham Town Council donated £10,000 while 22 village shops put collection boxes in their premises. The Vicar of Meltham, the Rev Maureen Read, said: “I have been truly amazed with the support we have received. “The public of Meltham have been right behind us and as a church we are extremely grateful. “We want to say a big thank you to all the many individuals and business people in the village who have helped us and we hope they will join us.” “If anybody would like to expand this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first at churchmicro@gmail.coam so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication. There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page found via the Bookmark list”