[1] The Headingley Hill Church Building Committee was set up on 22 January 1864, with the objective of constructing "an elegant structure" with the capacity for six hundred people.

[2] The choice of architect was considered at a meeting one month later; from a list of eight, four were selected – Joseph James of London, J P Pritchett of Darlington, and William Hill and Cuthbert Brodrick of Leeds.

[4] Brodrick's plans, elevations and specification were submitted on 25 June 1864, and a foundation stone laying ceremony held on 22 October.

The stone had a time capsule placed inside, and was laid with a silver trowel by Mr W Scholefield, the chairman of the building committee.

A report of the day from the Leeds Mercury stated that over £3,000 had already been subscribed "principally by the more influential residents in the district", and that contracts had been let for £1,300, but that adding the cost of the land, boundary wall and organ would take expected total expenditure to about £6,000 (equivalent to £745,000 in 2023).

In 1981, the building was converted into photographic studios and the offices of a firm of local architects, Gillinson, Barnett & Partners,[13][14] and during this time a spiral staircase was inserted into the organ gallery to enable the space to be used, as well as the removal of the bells and gates.

[4] The exterior of the church building is constructed of rock-faced coursed gritstone with carved ashlar details and dressings, and leaded glass windows.

On a rectangular plan, each long side of the church has six gabled bays, which each contain a tall two-light window within a pointed head.

Pathways from each entrance gate converge at the main steps, which are very wide with a central cast iron handrail, to form a grand ascent.

In the main internal space, the roof is supported by four pairs of tall, slender cast iron columns, quatrefoil in section and with moulded collars and foliated capitals.