B.H. Bretherick's Life and Times

Bretherick's Life and Times is the most definitive record of the events which led to the building of St John's Church in Farsley, detailing events throughout its first 150 years serving the local community.

It is a fasincating historical document which gives a real insight into life in Farsley and records important events in the lives of some of the area's most notable residents.

It was collated and published as a short booklet in 1982 to help raise money for the conversion of the former vicarage into a new church hall.

Few printed copies of the booklet exist today and it would be hard for the booklet's author to imagine the technological advances which mean this historical record can now be made available in an electronic format such as this.

However, the record is of such importance, we feel more people should be able to read and refer to the information to make sure it is presevered for future generations.

Reading it, to check the accuracy of the conversion into this format, has been a voyage of discovery for me. The names on the plaques on the walls now feel familiar as I recall the stories of the people to which they refer. The marks on the walls left by previous changes are now easier to understand.

My hope now is that more people who have never had a chance to read Bretherick's detailed history will be able to enjoy reading it and referring to it for many more years, and in time I hope we are able to continue Bretherick's example and update his history book to fill in the gaps in detail from 1982 to the present day.

JAMES WEBSTER
Church Warden (2026)

Foreword

Former vicar Derek Briggs, introduced "The Life and Times of St John's Church, Farsley, West Yorkshire" in 1982 by paying tribute to Bretherick's work researching and documenting the building's history and commending it for both study and enjoyment.

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Introduction

"What does St. John's mean to You?", writes B. Bretherick at the start of his 1982 history booklet documenting the first 150 years of St John's Church. "In offering to put together the available information contained in this booklet I little realised how much there is to know about Farsley, the Church and its people."

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In The Beginning

The Parish of CALVERLEY-WITH-FARSLEY is referred to in the Domesday Book (1086) as a Manor held by the Saxon - Archill. When the Norman Conquest was over and William gave land away to his noblemen, the area formed part of the estate of Ilbert de Lacy.

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Need for a Church in Farsley

The case for building a church in Farsley to better serve the growing population in the early 1800s is made: "Calverley Church could not continue to support so many parishioners and the vicar at the time, Rev. Samuel Redhead had quite a task on his hands in Farsley due to the large number of "less well-off people"."

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Village Life

A look at life in Farsley in the century before the church was built which sets in context the uphill struggle which Samuel Redhead had when he suggested raising money to build a new church: "Due to the state of the area then, Samuel Redhead certainly had a difficult "cross to bear" when the suggestion of a church be built in Farsley. Where was the money to come from?"

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Fund Raising

More than £1892 was raised to pay for the building of St John's in 1842/3 with the building's architect giving his services for free. It has been said "It is remarkable that so neat a religious edifice should be erected for so small a sum".

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St John's 1843

Detailed description of the church as it was built in 1843 and various additions and improvements which were made throughout the 19th Century including demolishing the tower and rebuilding it when it was in danger of collapse.

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St John's in the 20th Century

Very few significant changes were made to the fabric of St John's Church in the 20th Century though the addition of the clergy and choir vestries are among the developments detailed here.

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Vicarage and Church Hall

One of the biggest projects for the church came with the building of the Church Hall and the new Vicarage in the early 1980s. Its reopening was marked with a series of special events of celebration and dedication.

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List of Donors

St John's Church was built thanks to the generosity of many people who donated the funds necessary. Their contributions are recognised here.

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