Foreword

It gives me great pleasure to write the foreword to this booklet on the life and times of St. John's. The last history of Farsley Parish Church appeared in the Souvenir brochure of the British Empire Bazaar in 1910. It was also intended to up-date the history at the time of the centenary of the Church in 1943, but wartime conditions prevented such a publication.

The task of bringing this history up-to-date has thus been long over-due and I am delighted that Mr. B. Bretherick has undertaken this work. We are greatly indebted to him for his patient and painstaking research in bringing the past to life again.

As you read you will realise how we have entered into the labours of others. This has always been so in the life of the Church, the saying holds true - "One sows and another reaps". In the 139 years' history of the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Farsley, clergy and people have sown and God has given a wonderful growth. We have been able to reap the harvest of the hard work of our predecessors. In turn we have planted and I pray that our successors will nurture what has been sown and that God will give a far richer growth than in the past.

I have pleasure in commending this book for your study and enjoyment.

DEREK BRIGGS

More from Bretherick's Life and Times

B.H. 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.

"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."

In The Beginning

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.

Need for a Church in Farsley

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

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

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

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)

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

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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