Brighouse - Religion

Religion

St James' Church, which was a chapel of ease for the Parish Church of Saint Martin in Brighouse, opened in 1870, with a congregation of 450. An organ was installed in the same year. Two stained glass windows from the William Morris factory, designed by Edward Burne-Jones were installed in July 1871. Further windows were added at later dates by other designers. In 1900 William Camm the organist paid for the fitting of a window in memory of his mother. A further window to commemorate the curate Rev Alban Bodley Mace (1915), who was killed in action at Salonika during 1916, serving with the Allied Expeditionary Force. The chancel screen was designed by G. H. Woodhouse of Manchester. St James Church was last used on 27 December 1970; and then demolished, with the land used for residential properties. The stained glass windows were removed and taken into the care of the Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley where they can now be viewed. St Joseph's Catholic church was built in the early 1900s, on Martin street. In 1879 a primary school was established, using the Church hall, from Monday to Friday. It remained in use until 4 September 1961 when a new school was built, on Finkel Street. The Central Methodist Church is situated at the west end of Brighouse backing on to the Ludenschied Link with a side entry at the lower part of Parsonage Lane. The frontage overlooks a small car park.