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Leeds Parish Church

St. Peters (Leeds Parish Church)

 The first church on this site was probably built in the early 7th century when Leeds was no more than a village. This building was wooden and burned down in the year 633. The Domesday Book refers to a church in the manor of Leeds in 1086. The church was rebuilt in the 14th century and was extended over the centuries. In 1837 Walter Farquhar Hook became Vicar of Leeds. He realised that the building was unsafe and a completely new church was necessary telling the architect, Robert Chantrell, to build a “grand” building which would “hold as many people as possible”. This Church, with over 1600 seats, was consecrated on 2nd September 1841 to serve the great City of which it is the historic spiritual centre. It was Dr Hook who re-founded the world famous Choir, and this is the only parish church in the country with daily choral services.