'The Cathedral of Congregationalism'

Most pictures of Saltaire United Reformed Church show it from the front, looking down the drive (as in my post for 3 July). This view from the southeast is slightly less familiar. It is one of the small joys of wintertime: that new and unexpected views open up when the trees lose their leaves and you can see through the tracery of branches. It's especially satisfying with regard to the church, because the south side obviously gets most of the light, but is hard to capture for much of the year.

The church was completed in 1859, commissioned by Titus Salt as part of his 'model village'. It is one of a number of magnificent churches built in this part of England around that time by Yorkshire's Victorian textile paternalists, who were eager to see communities follow a Christian way of life. It is a most imposing edifice, with its six huge Corinthian columns supporting the great tower. It's equally grand inside (especially considering it is a non-conformist church) - see my posts of 22 June and 26 October. It started life as Saltaire Congregational Church - and earned the title 'the Cathedral of Congregationalism.'