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.

Recorded in 1086 is the following -

"In Calverlei and Ferselleia, Archill had three carucates of land to be taxed (a carucate was as much land as a team of oxen could plough in a season), and there may be two ploughs. Ilbert has it and it is waste. Value in King Edward's time, twenty shillings. Wood pasture half-a-mile long and half broad".

I would assume here that due to the conquest the area would be somewhat de-populated. Archill and his son Gospatric kept some of their property under a Norman over-lord and retained this portion of it in Calverley in his family until the middle of the 12th Century. Gospatric also had "two carucates in Brameleia".

FARSLEY

In 1086 it was FERSELLEI(A). Anglo-Saxon names are quite common in the area such as Bramley and Rodley. The 11th Century changed the village name slightly to FERSLEE - FERSELAY - FERSELEY - FERSLEG - FERSELAYA - it looks as if they could not make up their minds at the time. Later in the 12th Century it was changed to FIRSLAY and in 1349 it was shown as FARSELAY and in 1422 it became FARSLEY and eventually our present spelling of FARSLEY.

It has been suggested that the word originates out of the Old English "FYRS" - furze or gorse linked with "LEAH" - a lea or meadow, pasture or open country. The village in those bygone days had perhaps been a small settlement in "a clearing with gorse bushes".

Since the church was built and Farsley became a Parish, the boundary was formed entirely by Priesthorpe Lane and the beck which ran near the old Bradford Road down by Stanningley Ironworks and on by Beckbottom to the Leeds boundary at Bagley.

PARISH OF FARSLEY

"The boundaries are formed almost entirely by Priesthorpe Lane and the beck which runs near the Bradford Rd., down by Stanningley Ironworks and Beckbottom to the Leeds boundary at Bagley".

(March 1900)

More from Bretherick's Life and Times

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. My hope now is that more people who have never had a chance to read Bretherick's booklet will be able to enjoy it in this new online format.

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.

"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."

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"."

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?"

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".

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.

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.

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.

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

Gifts made to the Church

Many gifts have been made to the church over the years, many items which continue to be used many decades later. They are documented in this list.

Farsley Village Calendar (from 1750)

The following are items of interest connected with the village and the church obtained from various sources.

Vicars of St John's

A short biography of each vicar who has been responsible for the Parish of St John's in Farsley from 1843 to the present day, compiled from information in Bretherick's Life and Times booklet in 1982 with further details added for vicars who have succeeded them.

The Jubilee Hymn written by W. Richardson and slightly adapted by B. H. Bretherick for his Life and Times booklet.

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