St John The Evangelist Redundant Church, Leeds

Saint John the Evangelist's Church is the oldest surviving church building in central Leeds. Consecrated in 1634, it owes its existence to John Harrison, a wealthy wool merchant who financed its construction. Over the centuries, the church underwent several renovations, particularly during the 19th century, when architects Richard Shaw, George Scott, and Temple Moore carried out its restoration.

By 1975, Saint John's was no longer used for regular worship and was declared redundant, or officially closed as an active place of worship. Fortunately, rather than being abandoned or demolished, it was taken into the care of the Churches Conservation Trust in 1977.

From the outside, the church has a rather restrained appearance, with walls of finely cut stone and a grey slate roof. Its architecture follows the Perpendicular Gothic style, recognizable by strong vertical lines and large windows. The square tower, supported by substantial buttresses, has clock faces on three sides and bell openings near the top. Above the arched entrance to the porch, you will also notice an old sundial.

Inside, however, the decoration becomes much more elaborate. The nave is divided by an arcade of arches resting on eight-sided stone pillars, whose capitals are carved with acanthus leaves. But the most impressive feature is overhead. The magnificent Jacobean-style wooden ceiling is richly decorated with carved beams, ornamental brackets, gilded pendants, and panels featuring floral designs.

There are several other details worth noticing, including the royal coat of arms, elegant brass chandeliers, and a 19th-century memorial window dedicated to John Harrison, the man who made the church possible in the first place. Saint John's is a listed building and is preserved not only as a place of historical interest but also as one of Leeds' finest surviving examples of 17th-century religious architecture.