SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

In tonights YEP there is a letter that suggests that the oldest church in Leeds is not St John the Baptist in Adel which I've always believed to be the case but is in fact All Hallows Church BardseySeems both are in the same diocese of Ripon and Leeds    Quote"Oldest churchI HATE to disagree with the Diocesan communications officer Canon John Carter re the article about St John the Baptist Church, Adel (YEP, November 19) but it is not the oldest in the Diocese. My husband and I were married in St John's 44 years ago, but have since lived in Bardsey. I can assure you All Hallows Church, Bardsey is much older (1,200 years). It still has its Saxon tower, in which are situated three bells, and volunteers go up the tower to wind the clock by hand every day of the year. We are in the same Diocese of Ripon with Leeds, as is Adel. Sue Cairns, Church Warden, All Hallows Church"

St John the Baptist, AdelThe YEP said this was the oldesthttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Lee ... 6631398.jp

Leeds Hippo wrote: St John the Baptist, Adel Many works do indeed credit this as being the oldest. St Mary's Whitkirk rates closely too I think.

To my eye, of the present buildings, Bardsey contains a fair amount of Anglo-Saxon architecture. Adel looks clearly Norman. So, unless there is some pre-conquest bits hidden at Adel, I'd put my money on Bardsey.

Googling the two churches websites produces the following:-Adel, 950 years old.Bardsey, 1200 years old.Game,set,and match to Bardsey, and by a considerable margin. Is it the case, perhaps, that the claim that Adel was the oldest church in Leeds was made in the years before the inclusion of the Wetherby and Bardsey areas within the Leeds boundary?

jim wrote: Googling the two churches websites produces the following:-Adel, 950 years old.Bardsey, 1200 years old.Game,set,and match to Bardsey, and by a considerable margin. Is it the case, perhaps, that the claim that Adel was the oldest church in Leeds was made in the years before the inclusion of the Wetherby and Bardsey areas within the Leeds boundary? Thinking that's the explanation Jim, wait till we extend over the whole country - take in everything then!!

Bardsey's 9th century church is gorgeous but really unknown, a total hidden gem. I tend to get a little giddy at Anglo-Saxon stuff and when we stumbled on All Hallows while walking (we did the Leeds Country Way last month and it's on the route) I was very boppity.St John's is very atmospheric inside but is very obviously Norman in it's thinking as well as the overall design. All Hallows is a different feel entirely.I really should post the pictures I took up on my blog once I am done with the Lost Opportunities Revisited project.

Ledsham is 8th century in originhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledsham,_West_Yorkshire

cnosni wrote: Ledsham is 8th century in originhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledsham,_West_Yorkshire That's very interesting - mentions that it is in the Leeds Metropolitan Borough of LeedsDoes anyone have a map showing the boundry of Leeds?http://www.archaeology.wyjs.org.uk/docu ... tmMentions that it is the oldest standing building in West Yorkshire!    

Leeds Hippo wrote: cnosni wrote: Ledsham is 8th century in originhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledsham,_West_Yorkshire That's very interesting - mentions that it is in the Leeds Metropolitan Borough of LeedsDoes anyone have a map showing the boundry of Leeds?http://www.archaeology.wyjs.org.uk/docu ... tmMentions that it is the oldest standing building in West Yorkshire!     Hi Leeds Hippo. This link may help. It will bring up a map showing the Leeds Metropolitan Ward Boundaries http://www.leeds.gov.uk/maps/leeds_wb.html The link brings up the map in the Leeds City Council website. It does though only show and name the boundaries as it does not name places in a ward.