St Michael and All Angels' Church, Haworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Michael and All Angels' Church |
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St Michael and All Angels' Church, Haworth
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| Country |  England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | Haworth Parish Church |
| History | |
| Dedicated | 1881 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Groundbreaking | 1879 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Haworth |
| Diocese | Leeds |
St Michael and All Angels' Church is a special church in Haworth, West Yorkshire, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is the third one built on the same spot. It was mostly built between 1879 and 1881. But some parts, like the tower, are much older, from a medieval church.
The church is famous because of its strong connection to the Brontë sisters. Their father, Patrick Brontë, was the minister here for many years. He served the church from 1820 to 1861.
A Look Back: The Church's History
There has been a church building on this site since at least 1488. Old records from 1317 show that people in Haworth were already paying a priest for a chapel here. A famous preacher named John Wesley even gave sermons in the church many times in the 1700s.
The church was rebuilt in the 1700s using strong local stone. The roof was made of slate. The tower from this time is still part of the church today. It was kept when the church was rebuilt again between 1879 and 1881. This big rebuilding project caused some debate at the time. Haworth, the church, and the nearby parsonage had become very popular. This was because of the famous Brontë family, especially the books written by Anne, Charlotte, and Emily.
Today, St Michael and All Angels' Church is still an active place of worship. It serves the local community in Haworth and Cross Roads. In 2016, the church had major repairs to its roof and tower. These repairs cost about £750,000. While the work was being done, the church members shared a place of worship with the Methodist church nearby.
The Brontë Family Connection
Patrick Brontë moved to Haworth in 1820 with his wife, Maria, and their children. They came from a place called Thornton. He was offered the job of minister (called a perpetual curate) at the Haworth church in 1819. He served as the Reverend at St Michael and All Angels for 41 years. Later, his son-in-law, Arthur Bell Nicholls, helped him.
Many tourists visit the church to see the Brontë Memorial Chapel. They also want to see the Brontë family tomb. Most of the Brontë family members are buried here. The only one not buried here is Anne. A simple plaque marks the tomb. It was placed there in 1882. The memorial chapel was built in 1963. Funds for its construction were donated by Sir Tresham Lever.
Next to the church is an old graveyard. There are also historic church school buildings. The Georgian era Church Parsonage is also nearby. This is where the Brontë family lived. They wrote many of their famous novels, short stories, and poems in this house.
The Historic Graveyard
The graveyard next to the church is very old and large. It is thought to contain between 40,000 and 42,000 bodies. Some graves hold entire families. Because it became so full, the graveyard closed in 1883. A new cemetery opened in 1893, a short distance away. Patrick Brontë worked hard to improve the old graveyard. He wanted it cleaned up and the gravestones placed upright. This was because the poor drainage was causing problems.
