page_title: Robert Mawer
section_title: Church of St Matthias, Burley, Leeds, 1853−1854
hierarchical_section_title: Robert Mawer / Works / Church of St Matthias, Burley, Leeds, 1853−1854
caption_attribution_description: English: St Matthias, Burley from St Matthias Street, Leeds. Looking east across St Mathias Street
context_page_description: Robert Mawer was an architectural sculptor, based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. He specialised in the Gothic Revival and Neoclassical styles. He created the Neoclassical keystone heads on St George's Hall, Bradford and on Moorland's House, Leeds, and was working on the keystone heads at Leeds Town Hall when he died. He was a founding member of the Mawer Group of Leeds architectural sculptors, which included his wife, Catherine Mawer, his son Charles Mawer, and his apprentices William Ingle, Matthew Taylor and Benjamin Payler, who all became sculptors with their own careers. Many of the buildings enhanced with sculpture by Robert Mawer are now listed by Historic England.
context_section_description: This is a Grade II* listed building, designed by Perkin and Backhouse of Leeds. The foundation stone was laid in February 1853, and the building was consecrated on Friday 10 November 1854.
  The arches of the nave have carved bosses. They and the inscribed stone or tablet in the tower were carved by Mawer. The tablet says: "Saint Matthias Church, Burley. This church, built by subscription, was consecrated on the 10th day of November, 1854, an endowment of £150 per annum having been provided out of the bequest of the late Mrs. Jane Matthewman, formerly of Leeds, who died at Harrogate the first day of June 1848."
  
  The Leeds Intelligencer reported in 1854 thus: 
  "The font is placed in the centre of a wide aisle at the entrance to the church, and is raised on two steps. It is elaborately carved. Its plan is octagonal, and each side has a well-relieved and moulded arched canopy, with sunk emblazoned panel, on which are written the following appropriate text: "One Lord," "One Faith," "One Baptism," "One God and Father of all." Around the bowl is the "Lily," and the canopies terminate with "Doves" and enriched bosses alternately. The stem is panelled and diapered, and each panel finishes with crochets. It is the gift of Charles Gascoigne Maclea Esq. ... The font, tablet, and all the carved work are of Caen stone, and have been executed by Mr Robert Mawer of this town.(Leeds Intelligencer, 11 November 1854)"
  The building was altered and enlarged in 1886 to increase seating capacity from 450 to 650. As of 2017 the interior of the church had been recently reordered, with 19th century pews removed.
   Media related to St. Matthias' Church, Burley, Leeds at Wikimedia Commons
caption: St Matthias, Burley
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