A Parish Church has stood on this site in Huddersfield for almost 1000 years. The first church was built by Walter de Laci, the second son of Ilbert de Laci, a wealthy nobleman, who held a great deal of land in Yorkshire, including the manors of Huddersfield and Almondbury. The story goes that Walter, as he was riding from Huddersfield to Halifax, was thrown from his horse into a swampy marsh. Fearing for his life, he vowed that if he were spared, he would found a church at Huddersfield. Walter lived to keep his promise and the church was built around 1090 – 1100. (The date should not be earlier, since the Domesday Book of 1085 records no church yet in ‘Odersfelt’.) Soon the de Lacis fell from favour, and the Manor of Huddersfield passed to Hugh de Laval, who in turn gave the advowson (patronage and tithe rights) to the Augustinian order at Nostell Priory. The first Vicar of Huddersfield on record was Michael de Wakefield (1216). The full list in the west entrance porch includes Henry Venn (1759-71), a noted member of the Evangelical movement who invited John Wesley to preach here. During the years 1503 – 6 the church had been rebuilt in the ‘Perpendicular’ style. The Parish Church had at least two chantry chapels possibly at some distance from the church. Masses would have been said here for the dead, before the reformation. We believe one such chapel to have existed at Bay Hall in Birkby, Huddersfield. By 1830 the town had grown considerably and the fabric of the Parish Church was in a poor state. Mr Pritchett, the York architect who also designed Huddersfield station, gave an estimate of £2,000 for a simple rebuilding. However, the rebuilding project became more ambitious and it was decided to (i) raise the floor by eight feet and construct a crypt (ii) extend the nave by thirty feet to the west (iii) build the tower much higher to 120 feet. The cost escalated to £10,000.
The new church was consecrated on 27 October 1836. Unfortunately, many of the stones were laid ‘the wrong way round’ and, as a result, have weathered very badly in years since.
Head to the posted co-ords to find the first question.
Look at the telehone number
01E8E E2CA6E
Now go to Question 2
Ellen Colden Died on Nov 3Bth 1874
Hannah Kaye
Who departed this life Jan 27th 1D36
William Henry Kaye
Sept 7th 186F
N53.38.A(B+1)(C-5)
W001.46.D(E-3)(F-1)
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