Leeds news on today's date (Oct 29) in 1866.

[Leodian]

The following is from John Mayhall’s 'Annals of Yorkshire':-October 29 1866. “The foundation stone of the Leeds Church Institute and Sunday School Association was laid this day with great ceremony. A procession, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Ripon…was formed at the Town Hall, and headed by a band of music and the scholars belonging to the Association, walked to the site of the new building in Albion Place, where the ceremony was performed by the Archbishop. After the foundation stone was laid there was luncheon in the Stock Exchange, the Vicar (Dr. Atlay) presiding; and in the evening the annual soiree of the institution was held in the Victoria Hall, under the presidency of the Dean of Chichester.”The fine building is still there but it does not (as far as I’m aware) function as it originally did as it now seems to be commercial premises. The building mainly fronts on Albion Place, but part of it is on Lands Lane and is used by the La Senza store. There is a Leeds Church Institute building on New Market Street, which may or may not be the current home of the original institution.

[Jogon]

Hi LeoInteresting, ta.I allus thought it older than that. It also has the barely visible, but beautifully crafted "Guardian Hounds" on the tower.http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3065402Hard to get near for a good look, and one doesn't like to go on rooftop car parks with binoculars...[edit] I'm not at home at mo, if I look NNE, I can see Penshaw Monument ]

[James]

I remember when there was a bookshop in the basement of the Church Institute. I believe it might have 'specialised' in religious books. Perhaps it was one of Austicks Bookshops, but I can't say for certain.