Leeds’ oldest church in the city center is set for a careful round of repairs after Leeds City Council approved plans for Grade I-listed St John’s Church on New Briggate.
The church, which dates back to 1632, will see historic features repaired to help secure its long-term future as an architectural landmark. Council documents describe the Jacobean building as having special historic interest and note that it is constructed in Millstone Grit. The tower includes masonry detailing and timber louvres at the belfry openings, and the site also includes the surrounding churchyard with frontages to New Briggate, Merrion Street, Wade Lane, and Mark Lane.
The approved work targets several exterior elements that take the most wear over time, including the clock faces, parapets, and pinnacles. Scaffolding will be erected to provide access for the repairs. The project also includes installing anti-pigeon spikes to help reduce future damage to the exterior clock faces.
According to the planning report, the scope is based on issues identified through a specialist inspection and is intended to be like-for-like. For mason contractors who work in the restoration space, that kind of language matters because it signals a preservation-first approach that focuses on repairing, consolidating, and replacing only what is damaged.
The report specifically cites masonry repairs and repointing to the tower, including replacement of damaged belfry opening masonry and consolidation of parapets and pinnacles, as part of the proposed work.
Read the full, original article from Yorkshire Evening Post here.