The small original church of the village was pulled down about the year 1836. About that year a new edifice, semi-Gothic in style, was erected, the external part being of brick, with white facings, and plastered inside. The edifice included a small chancel and a west tower, the latter being square and finished with stave pinnacles. This church, externally us well as internally, was of a very ordinary character. The vestry was under the east end of the church, and was approached by two flights of stone steps from each side of the chancel. Owing to its damp and unsuitable condition the building could seldom be used, and then only at great inconvenience. The ceiling of the church was did, and lathed and plastered ; the chancel floor was nearly level with that of the nave; and the chancel was approached by a small plastered central arch, with smaller openings on each side leading down the steps into the old vestry underneath.
The whole of the interior has undergone a complete transformation, after the designs and under the able superintendence of Mr. Thos. Winn, of Park-lane, Leeds. The old roof externally remains, but the plastered ceilings and the old roof binding beams and timbers have been taken out, and modern shaped, curved, and moulded principal ribs inserted; whilst the inside of the roof is now of pitch pine, narrow boarded, with moulded rib panels in bays, finished to a height of about 22ft. from the floor. The roof of the chancel has been broken off and raised, and the east windows have also been raised in proportion. The chancel floor is now approached with one step to the choir stall level, and other two steps to the chancel floor. The old chancel arch has been pulled down, and deeply moulded, cleansed stone jambs and arch, with moulded label, erected for the full width of the chancel to the height of the new open roof. New choir stalls have been supplied, with richly moulded and carved ends, neat in design, and admirably executed. The whole of the old windows in the chancel and church have been taken out, and new lead-glazed stained-glass windows fixed therein, the east window being in three lights, with the central figure of St. Bartholomew, after whom the church is dedicated. The inscription at the bottom of the window reads as follows: "The interior alterations to this chapel and the erection of new vestry was completed by the munificence of Samuel James Brown, Esq., then living at Loftuss in the year of our Lord, 1888". The whole of the new windows are very neatly executed, and give a most pleasing appearance to the church.
The chancel floor lies been paved with white and black marble, and the altar table raised, with a white marble step placed round it. The whole of the old floor of the church, which consisted of flags, has been taken out and laid with a tiled pavement. The whole of the walls have been re-decorated, as well as the chancel, in a very tasteful manner; new altar rails have been fixed, and a new communion cloth purchased; a new hot-water heating apparatus has been fixed around the church, and other improvements made; in fact, everything in the interior of the church, with the exception of the old wood pulpit, the lectern, and the sittings, is new.
The whole of the work has been done in a must satisfactory manner, the workmanship all round being of the best description. The contractors have been as follows: Mason's work, Messrs. Nettleton and Son, Roundhay, Leeds; ,joiner and carpenter's, Messrs. Nicholson and Son, Leeds; heating and lighting, Messrs. Nelson and Son, Leeds; wall decorations, Mr. J. T. Pollard, Leeds; stained-glass windows, Mr. Pape, Leeds; and tiled paving, Mr. Frankland, Leeds.
At the reopening service the following clergy were present: The Lord Bishop of Ripon, the Vicar of Arkendale (the Rev. C. N. Wright), the Rev. Canon Owen (Boroughbridge), the Hon. and Rev. J. W. Lascelles (Goldsborough), the Rev. W. E. Hancock (Knaresborough Parish Church), the Rev..T. H. Matthews (Knaresborough Parish Church), the Rev. J. P. Poole (Bishop Monkton), the Rev. B. P. Knubley (Staveley), the Rev. J. F. St. Maur Russell (Aldborough), and the Rev. P. G. Sykes (Dunsforth).
The service, which was of a very interesting and impressive character, was commenced with the singing of the hymn, "Christ is our corner stone", the Vicar presiding at the organ, and the Hon. and Rev. J. W. Lascelles conducting the service. The special Psalms selected were the 84th and the 122nd; and the anthem, which was most ably rendered, was the Hallelujah Chorus. The choir were assisted by members of the Knaresborough Parish Church choir. The lessons were read respectively by the Rev. Canon Owen and the Rev. W. E. Hancock, and the Lord Bishop of Ripon preached a most eloquent sermon, selecting as his text St. Luke, vi. 35 - "Do good, hoping for nothing". The offertory at the close of the service amounted to £20, and will be given to the new Diocesan Victoria Clergy Pension Fund.
After service the Bishop and clergy and others were entertained to luncheon at. Loftuss Hill by Mr. and Mrs. Brown. Amongst those present were the following: - The Bishop of Ripon and Mrs. Carpenter, the Rev. Canon Owen, the Hon. and Rev. J. W. and Mrs. Lascelles, the Rev. C. N. and Mrs. Wright, the Rev. W. E. and Mrs. Hancock, the Rev. E. P. Knubley, the Rev. P. G. and Mrs. Sykes, the Rev. P. G. and Mrs Poole, the Rev. J. F. St. Maur Russell and Mrs. Russell, the Rev. N. G. and Mrs. Kinnear, the Rev. J. H. Matthews, Miss Shiffner, Miss Dering, Mr. W. C. and Mrs. Stobart, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Brown, the Misses Brown, Mr. Thomas Winn, &c.
After luncheon, Mr. S. J. Brown proposed the toasts of "The Queen", "The Bishop", and "The Vicar". The Bishop in responding to the second toast, proposed the health of Mr. Brown, and remarked that it was with the utmost pleasure that he had visited Arkendale that day. To Mr. Brown the thanks of all were due for all that they had taken part in that day, and more particularly for the beautifully renovated church. The Vicar, in responding to the toast of "The Vicar", testified both to the support he had received from Mr. Brown during the. nine and a half years that he (the speaker) had been in Arkendale; and also to the beneficence of Mr. Brown to the people of Arkendale at all times, but more particularly during the winter months.