Parish Church of St Jude, Hexthorpe, Doncaster
Location/Address
Shady Side, Doncaster. DN4 0ED
Type
Description
The parish church of St Jude's , Hexthorpe, was built in 1894, for the growing population of the village, due to the growth and expansion of the Railway Wagon Works and other associated industries. Built in the Gothic style with a roof of pitched pine supported integrally by iron struts and collars. Originally designed by Lord Grimthorpe and mainly funded by his family. Standing in a prominent position in the centre of the village, it has been in continual use since and is well used by the community.
Sources:
A Skilful Master Builder----William Anelay Ltd 1975.
Aspects of Doncaster Vol 2 1999 The Doncaster Plant Churches: St James and St Judes-- Roger Glister.
Doncaster Architects: Herbert Athron by Eric Braim. Doncaster Civic Trust 1982.
The Buildings of England – Yorkshire West Riding Sheffield and the South, R. Harman & N. Pevsner, 2019
Centenary 1884/1994 At Jude's Church< Hexthorpe, 1994, Sue Warnes, Hexpress Community Newspaper Issue 30.
Statement of Significance
Asset type
Parish church of St Jude's , Hexthorpe, Doncaster which was built in 1894. Built in the Gothic style with a roof of pitched pine supported integrally by iron struts and collars.Age
In the 1850s as the population of Hexthorpe grew with the building and expansion of Railway and Wagon works, St James's Church was used to cater for the needs of the community. However this was just outside the Hexthorpe village area and by 1890 it was acknowledged that a permanent church was needed within the village. The church of St. Jude's was built in 1894 and has been used continually by the community as a parish church since then.Architectural and Artistic Interest
An attractive building . Pevsner states that Lord Grimthorpe drew a preliminary sketch and that it was then designed by local architect Herbert Athron. Athron had already designed the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Waterdale/Wood St and would later be the architect for many other local buildings. Sources vary as to how much was Grimthorpe's work at Hexthorpe but it seems reasonable to think that Pevsner is correct. The church was constructed by the long established local firm of William Anelay. It is constructed of red bricks, from Balby, with Ancaster stone dressings. The original roof had tiles from Staffordshire but the present clay tiled roof is thought to be recent. On top is a bellcote which is set diagonally. Some alterations took place in 1910. The chancel was extended. This integrates well with the original design. There were originally dual entrances in the west wall but these proved unsatisfactory. Instead a new entrance was created in the south wall . The doorway was then enclosed with a porch. All 1910. Vestries added to north east corner 1925. Church hall is modern and adjoining but not seen. Inside the church can be seen the exposed roof structure of pitched pine is supported using iron tier struts and collars as Grimthorpe intended. This results in a large open nave with no supporting pillars with an uninterrupted view of the choir and chancel by the whole congregation. (Glister 1999)Group Value
St Jude's church was built to provide spiritual needs to the Parish of Hexthorpe. Originally this was a combined parish of "Balby with Hexthorpe" with the church of St. John's Balby helping to cover the parish on the western side of the old village. The Eastern side with the Railway and Wagon works and all the industrial works and accompanying housing was covered by St. James's church over the bridge leading into Hexthorpe. St Judes could therefore be seen as in partnership with both these churches (all built mid to late 19th Century) until it was finally established as the main church to cover the entire village of Hexthorpe in the 1930s.Historic Interest
With the steady increase in the size and population of Hexthorpe from the 1850s the church of St. James was built outside the village to serve the community plus a school Hall in Shadyside in Hexthorpe was also used for worship extensively until 1890. It was then realised that better facilities were needed and a permanent church in the village was the answer. A local resident Mr Pybus gave a donation of £500 and a parcel of land and the rest of the cost of the new church was met by the late Lord Grimthorpe and his sister Miss Beckett-Dennison. Their father was Edmund Beckett -Denison who was a key figure in bringing the railway to the town. Grimthorpe was an amateur architect and had a huge part in the design of the church, he also designed St Mary's at Wheatley. He was also an horologist and designed the workings of what we erroneously call Big Ben for Westminster. Lord Grimthorpe died in 1905 and bequeathed a legacy of £3,000 to be invested and the interest used for repair and maintenance of the fabric of the church. The church was opened in June 1884 by the Bishop of Beverly and later consecrated by the Archbishop of York in 1900. Before this date it was "chapel of ease" and part of St James's church. After 1900 the Parish of Hexthorpe was formed taking part of the parish of St. James. 1n 1930 the rest of Hexthorpe was removed from the parish of St. Johns in Balby and placed in the parish of St. Jude's. (Warnes 1994) St Jude's has stood in the centre of the suburb of Hexthorpe since 1894. The area which grew steadily in the early 20th Century with development of locomotive works which have now declined but the church has been used by the community continually since its opening. In 1921 a war memorial was located in the churchyard, it cost £250 to build which was raised from households in the parish. Hexthorpe had 106 heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Great War. Design of the memorial was decided by a War Memorial Committee, made up from representatives of the local churches, Working Men's Club, British Legion, Civil Defence, Home Guard and local branches of Trade unions. The Alderman and Town Councillors were also on the committee. Dedication was performed in 1921 by Archdeacon Sandford. 40 names were added after the second World War. The memorial is in a prominent position at the front of the church visible to all who pass the church on a regular basis.Landmark Status
This is a prominent parish church which has stood in the centre of Hexthorpe since 1894. It is on a main road through the village close to shops. There is a large War Memorial in the church yard with nearly 150 names of local Hexthorpe residents who were lost during the 2 World Wars originally erected in 1921
Date Listed
14 Aug 2023
Last Updated
14 Aug 2023
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