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It is a fasincating historical document which gives a real insight into life in Farsley and records important events in the lives of some of the area's most notable residents.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