Whitechapel Church, Cleckheaton facts for kids
Whitechapel Church is a very old church building located near Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1820, but people have worshipped on this spot for over 900 years!
Throughout its long history, different Christian groups have used the church. These include Roman Catholics, Protestants, Puritans, Methodists, and Anglicans. The church has interesting links to the Romans, the famous Brontë writers, and even the Knights Hospitaller. There's a grave slab of one of these knights right at the church entrance. The graveyard also holds war graves from both World Wars. Plus, a legend says that the famous Robin Hood is connected to this ancient site!
A Long History of Worship
Ancient Connections and Early Days
Some people believe Whitechapel Church stands on an old Roman road that went from York to Chester. This idea comes from a large collection of Roman coins found nearby. While there's no proof, it's thought there might have been a Roman stopping point here. It's also possible a wooden Saxon church stood on the site, but again, there's no evidence. Cleckheaton is mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086, but it doesn't mention a church here then.
The Norman Font: A Timeless Treasure
We know for sure that people have worshipped here since the Norman times. The best proof is the church's ancient font, which is from no later than 1120. It has cool carvings, including a Sheela Na Gig. It's amazing that babies are still baptized in this very old font today!
From Chapel to Church: Growing Over Time
This site first started as Heaton Chapel. It was a "chapel of ease" for the main Parish Church in Birstall. Birstall was a huge parish, covering areas from Bradford to Dewsbury. Heaton Chapel helped people in places like Scholes, Oakenshaw, Wyke, and Cleckheaton. This meant people didn't have to travel far for baptisms and Sunday services.
At first, people still had to go to Birstall for marriages and funerals. But in 1706, Whitechapel was allowed to hold burials. You can find many old gravestones from this time in the churchyard. Today, there are over 1000 graves here. It wasn't until 1837 that marriages could be performed at this church.
Changes in Faith: From Catholic to Anglican
Before 1534, this was a Roman Catholic church. The mass was said in Medieval Latin. There were no seats; people knelt on rush mats on the stone floor. The church porch was often used for business meetings.
In 1534, after the Acts of Supremacy, the church became part of the Church of England. Queen Elizabeth I was quite understanding about different religious beliefs. So, both Catholic and Protestant worship were allowed.
In 1611, King James I ordered the Bible and prayer book to be in English. The Book of Common Prayer is still used at Whitechapel once a month for a mid-week Communion service and Evensong.
The Puritan Years and a Time of Disrepair
From 1644 to 1660, during the time of the Puritans, the church was used by Non Conformists. It's thought that the old font was moved outside to the churchyard during this period.
After the king returned in 1660, it became illegal to worship in any way other than the Anglican Church. This meant Non Conformists had to find secret places to worship. Whitechapel Church was left almost empty and fell into disrepair. Records show that sheep grazed in the churchyard, and their lambs even sheltered inside the ruins!
Rebuilding and the Robin Hood Legend
Around 1707, the church was rebuilt. A stone above the entrance shows this. At this time, the old Norman font was found in the churchyard, but it was damaged. A new font was made, but someone decided to fix the original Norman font. It was turned upside down and used as the base for the new one!
Legend says that when the Archbishop of York came to bless the new building, he saw a yew tree in the church grounds. He supposedly said, "this is already consecrated ground," and rode away. It was common for churches to have a yew tree to provide wood for bows. Legend has it that Robin Hood himself cut his bows from this very tree! A new yew tree was planted for the Millennium. Around 1707, the church became known as "Ye Olde Whitechapel in the North." This might be because it was painted white on the outside.
Methodist Influence
Worship continued regularly through the 1700s. A stone in the North wall shows that the church was repaired in 1782. Its walls and roof were made taller. From 1757 to 1771, the vicar, Jonas Eastwood, was a strong supporter of the Methodist movement. Methodists were very important at Whitechapel during this time. It's even reported that John Wesley, a founder of Methodism, preached at Whitechapel in 1788.
The Church Today
A New Building and a Great Storm
By 1820, the church was too small for its growing congregation. So, it was rebuilt again. This is the building you see today! It used to have box pews and a tall, three-level pulpit. These were removed 65 years later when the church was updated to face east. All that remains of the pulpit is its sounding board, now part of a vestry.
On January 7, 1839, a huge storm hit. The church bell and part of its tower crashed through the roof, destroying the organ. The Leeds Mercury newspaper called it the fiercest storm anyone could remember. This old bell is now displayed inside the church, below the current pulpit.
Important Changes and War Memorials
From 1837 to 1886, the Rev. Robert Fetzer Taylor was a much-loved vicar. During his time, a church school was built in Scholes. Whitechapel also became its own parish. To honor his wife, Rev. Taylor had the old Norman font put back on a new base. The newer Richardson font was moved outside to the church porch.
During the First World War, many young men from the parish died. This included two sons of the vicar at the time, Rev. T.D. Hyde. A beautiful stained-glass window was put in to remember them. A porch was also built as a war memorial for everyone who lost their lives in the war.
Modern Times
Church of England worship has continued. From 1932 to 1934, the church was renovated inside. Electricity and a new heating system were installed. An electric blower was also added for the organ. During this time, church services were held at the nearby Moorend School.
In 1980, the parish joined with St. Luke's Church in Cleckheaton. In 2002, Whitechapel welcomed its first woman priest-in-charge, the Rev. Maggie McLean. An assistant priest, the Rev. Rachel Cave, was later appointed to Whitechapel. In 2009, Rev. Maggie McLean moved to another church.
