LAST week’s guest church, is St Aidan’s Church, Hellifield, and was correctly identified by Julie Sleath.

St Aidan’s was built in 1906 in the ‘Arts and Crafts’ style to serve the growing population who came to work on the busy railway line and cattle market.

Today it serves a population that continues to grow as people use the village as a base to commute from. It is within the Leeds Anglican Diocese.

The church is grade II listed and was built by Connon and Chorley, of Leeds, the Victorian architects were also responsible for the Met Hotel, Leeds, which opened in 1899 as the Hotel Metropole.

In 2016, the church authorities were given permission to carry out £8,000 alterations.

It included the removal of the choir stalls and the two front pews to make way for a platform the bottom of the chancel steps. The platform, steps and chancel were carpeted to provide one continuous space, and the stalls replaced with oak chairs, to match and enhance the existing wood.

The aim was to create a big open space to be better used by the community and for worship.

The go-ahead was granted by Mark Hill, Chancellor of the Diocese of West Yorkshire and Dales, who presided over a consistory court after concerns were raised by the Victorian Society. It claimed that the changes were inappropriate and would compromise the architectural character of the building and was disappointed with the decision, but the church vicar at the time responded it was not just a static building, but one that needed to reflect the community.

What about this week’s guest church? Suggestions by 8am on Monday to news@cravenherald.co.uk

What about this week’s guest church, pictured above by Philip Winstanley? Suggestions by 8am on Monday to news@cravenherald.co.uk