1836 A scheme was outlined for a new church to be built at the West end of the city. Money was raised for the building and a local architect, John Clark was instructed to draw up plans for a church of 'plain, bold style, free from ornaments'. As such, the design of the church comprised a nave and aisle under a timber roof, a clock tower, and a spire of 160 feet. The church was named St George's at the laying of the foundation stone by the then Bishop of Ripon, Charles Longley. At this stage, St George's was officially a chapel in the Parish of Leeds and remained so until 1868.
1836 Work started on the building. There was a slight delay as a decision was made to create burial vaults under the church as there was a general shortage of burial space in the city.
1837 The first curate, the Revd
William Sinclair, an
evangelical, was appointed and St George's became the leading evangelical church in the city. Since its opening, the reputation of St George's and that of its clergy, has been synonymous with evangelism. William Sinclair was officially known as a 'perpetual curate' of St George's because of the status of St George's within the Parish of Leeds.
1838 The church building was externally finished in April and was consecrated on 7 November of the same year. - appointed to St George's and successfully raised money for some much needed alterations and improvements to the church.
1900 The apse, chancel arch and vestry were added. A pulpit and choir stalls were also introduced. This cost a total of £9,000.00.
1904 Walter Green was appointed. Sunday schools and church organisations were thriving and church attendances were high.
1915 Arthur Alston was appointed.
1918 Bernard Herklots became vicar. He travelled widely and, in 1927, exchanged livings with a vicar in Dorset, Douglas Adams.
1927 Douglas Adams, having taken over as vicar, found himself faced with internal church squabbling, including differences over the church school. He organised the first Sunday school trip which went to
Boston Spa. He also dedicated the memorial chapel at St Andrew's Church, Bruntcliffe,
Morley, Leeds to those who had lost their lives in the First World War.
1930 Don Robins was appointed and this was the beginning of a new chapter in the life of the church. Robins was a charismatic leader who had a remarkable effect on all those who met him. The most renowned and longest lasting aspect of his work was the opening of the
crypt beneath the church. At first,
St George's Crypt was a refuge for men who had returned from the war and gravitated to Leeds in search of work but who ended up destitute. Since its inception, the crypt has offered support, advice and shelter to those people (men and women) on the margins of society and is still in existence today. Its work and its buildings have changed over the years to meet current demands and changes in society. Today, it is still a much respected Christian charity helping those with addiction and social exclusion problems. St George's works in a team of three churches, along with Holy Trinity and
St Augustine's Church, Wrangthorn. ==See also==