James Palmer gifted the site of the church in July 1874.
Architect: Edward Bartley.
Builder: Amos Bentham.
Cost: £588.8.3d
Records are somewhat confused concerning the cost. An original tender had been received in 1882 for £495.10.0d and then, following an altered design and specification, a later tender ded in 1884 produced a sum of £460.0.0d, presumably plus £70.0.0d for the chancel and vestry and £39.0.0d for the spire. Bishop Garden Cowie D D laid the foundation stone on September 13, 1884 and the building was completed and opened on December 23, 1884. The first pipe organ was installed in April 1904. It appears that the church had stained glass windows to the front and rear from an early date. Side windows were modernized after world War two by the addition of stained glass panels to the original glazing.
A Sunday school hall was added in 1907 across the rear part of the site, built by Thomas Moor for £295.0.0d. Anterooms were to be added later. It is presumed that Edward Bartley also designed this building, as it was in sympathetic timber Gothic style.
In 1923 Edward Bartley drafted plans for the vicarage, completed in 1924 by T Miller at a cost of £1268.0.0d, plus £8.15.0d for a water connection by Avondale Borough Council. The building was modernized in the 1950s with the addition of an electric stove and hot water supply.
McNab and Mason erected a war memorial, in the form of a Celtic cross in 1947 to their design, at a cost of £116.10.6d.
An interesting point noted in the centennial history is that parishioners rented church pews. Seat rents were abolished at St Jude's on 28 October 1898.
Bibliography
Sybil Maxwell and Deirdre Youngs; Church of St Jude Avondale - Centenary history 1884 to 1985
