Faith & ethics

Starting on Saturday 2 May 2009. 37 venues in Leeds will open. Treasures Revealed in Leeds is now in its fourth year of celebrating Leeds social, architectural and spiritual heritage.

Leeds's places of worship range from a church built in the ninth century to a mosque built as recently as 2003. Now you will be able to view not just the building but what lies inside. How often do you pass a familiar landmark without taking time to look inside?

From Guiseley in the north, to Gildersome in the south there's plenty to see. Churches, mosques, Quaker meeting houses, and even a pagan stone circle on the canal-side at Thwaite Mill are taking part.

"A noble and spacious building..."

One church open to view is St Matthew's, Chapel Allerton, described by Nicholaus Pevsner as “a noble and spacious building in a secluded place”  tucked away off Harrogate Road the church is an architectural treasure. St Matthew’s is home to some beautiful stained glass, and a 17th century font, brought from a previous St Matthew’s church.

As well as giving visitors an opportunity to look around St Matthew’s is hosting an
exhibition of work by Leeds artists, including four pieces by Patrick Oliver.

Patrick studied in Leeds and later at St Ives, returning to Leeds to live in Chapel Allerton, and to teach at Jacob Kramer college. In the 1950’s Patrick and his contemporaries were described as 'the Teddy Boys of British Art'.

St Matthew's will be open:
Saturdays 2 and 9 May - 10 am to 2 pm
Sundays 3 and 10 May - 2 pm to 4 pm
Bank Holiday Monday 4 May – 10 am to 3 pm
Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 May - 7 pm to 9 pm

For details of all the venues across Leeds take a look at the website Treasures Revealed.