St John the Evangelist

The design is by William Butterfield and the building was entrusted to Joseph Kaye of Huddersfield. Within the church the chancel and sanctuary are of two bays with diagonal buttresses and a tall five light east window with fine geometrical tracery; this window was built by James Powell and Sons (Whitefriars) Ltd in 1923 and is dedicated to those who gave their lives in the Great War and in memory of deceased relatives who have worshiped here. On the north wall of the chancel is a further memorial window built by James Powell and Sons (Whitefriars) Ltd also in 1923, dedicated to John Wood, who was the organist from1884 to 1922.

The tiled floors in this area are of a high quality, as are the choir stalls and matching president’s chair, which are of oak. The Decalogue is splendid and increasingly a rare survival.

The nave is of five bays with aisles to the north and south and to the west wall are three magnificent windows built between 1949 and 1953 by William Morris and Company (Westminster) Ltd and were designed to read as a whole. The windows to the left and right are dedicated to those who have served and worship in the church between 1853 and 1953, whilst the central window is dedicated to Joe and Annie Dyson Stead and Emily Elizabeth Oldfield.

The wooden furnishings are of a simple form, the bench ends giving the illusion of being slightly tilted. The ashlar font and pulpit are of massive, elemental forms. The font has been moved from its original position at the centre of the west nave to a south east position to the side of the organ.

The south east tower is especially fine, of four stages with imposing louvered opening with tracery to the belfry, open work parapet and octagonal corner pinnacles. The octagonal spire with three stages of gabled lucarnes, crocketed finials and weather vane reaches to a height of 220 feet. To the east of the tower is a small vestry at low level. The church is listed Grade II* and is the focal point of the Birkby Conservation Area.