Saltaire United Reformed Church is truly one of the nation's most precious Victorian architectural gems. The church, built by Sir Titus Salte in 1859 near Bradford, West Yorkshire, is a unique example of Italianate religious architecture. It boasts many architecturally and historically important features and has been described as a classic "Cathedral of Congregationalism"

This Grade I Listed Building (in the same category as Hampton Court Palace and Salisbury Cathedral) lies in the valley of the River Aire, at the foot of the Pennine Moors and at the entrance to the Yorkshire Dales. Paid for out of his own pocket by Sir Titus Salt, it is a focal point of the "model" village, Saltaire, that he built for the workers at his huge mill to ensure their spiritual needs were catered for.

Sir Titus commissioned architects Lockwood and Mawson to design the building, as they had designed a number of other important Italianate buildings in Bradford City centre.

The entrance is up six steps under a portico supported by six unfluted Corinthian columns and topped by a fretted tower with cupola. Fittingly, the Mausoleum built onto the church contains the remains of Sir Titus Salt himself.

Inside are hollow Corinthian columns with beautiful Scagliola exteriors, fashioned by Italian craftsmen. Two ornate chandeliers ormolu and cut glass hang from the ceiling, of such great weight that additional roof trusses had to be inserted to support them. Originally lit by gas, they were made by Hausburg of Liverpool.

The existing organ, built by Peter Conacher and Co. of Huddersfield, was installed in 1890, rebuilt at the end of the Second World War, and again in 1991 by Michael Fletcher, a local organ builder now the church organist, the cost being raised by church members.

To preserve Saltaire United Reformed Church as both a living church and a priceless piece of our heritage, an ongoing program of renovation has to be maintained. A recent renovation, costing £540,000 ($970,000) was completed in 1999. This included re-slating one side of the roof and repairing the other, strengthening the foundations at the West end of the church and extensive repairs to the church tower. The next phase of renovation will involve improvements to the church rooms at the base of the building, installation of disabled access and disabled toilets and further work on the tower, portico and steps at the front of the building. There a conflict between maintaining the frontal vista of the building whilst providing satisfactory disabled access to the building. This will need to be resolved but will, as a result cost more, than a simple ramp to surmount the steps! In the future further renovation will need to encompass the restoration of the church windows that have been damaged over the years by vandalism and the redecoration of the ornate interior. The probable ongoing cost will most likely approach a million pounds ($1,750,000)

Only by visiting Saltaire United Reformed Church can you fully appreciate its architectural splendours and the reason why it provides such a welcoming centre for worship and praise which reaches out across religious boundaries.

The Church is has a strong congregation and members keep the building open throughout the summer months in the afternoons for tourists to visit. It remains open on Sunday afternoons during the whole year. Tea, coffee, biscuits and cakes are on sale when the building is open on Sundays. A small shop and exhibition displays old prints from the history of the church and Saltaire. Postcards and guides and other items are available for sale. Parties can be accomodated at other times by special arrangment. Why not start your group visit with coffee at the church followed by a tour of Saltaire? For more details contact len.morris@physics.org.

Further information about church activities or how a donation towards the building's maintenance can be obtained from Len Morris, one of the buildings trustees at len.morris@physics.org