Elland Church
Although Elland is listed in the Doomsday Book of 1086 there is no mention of a church being in existence. It is possible that at this time there would be a cross either on or very near the present site of the church. According to the Bible the word 'church' means a group of people and not a building. Before the Norman conquest the town would be visited by a priest from Dewsbury. By the time of the Doomsday survey, Elland was under the jurisdiction of Halifax Church.
Because the Halifax area was so large, it was split into three districts, one of which was Elland where the Church was built. Although Elland was still a daughter church of Halifax it served the following districts: Rastrick, Brighouse, Fixby, Stainland, Grretland, Norland, Barkisland, Rishworth and Soyland. All the inhabitants of these districts were baptised, married and buried at Elland. This area was later split up when chapels were built at Rastrick and Ripponden.
The original church is thought to have been built about 1180 by the Monks of Fountains Abbey after they had completed the building of Kirkstall Abbey, about 1170. The Chancel Arch is typical of their type of masonry.
The design of the church would be typical of the period with an open roof and bare earth floor. It appears that it would be very narrow, the Chancel was narrower than the nave.
At the end of the 13th century, the chancel was extended north and south to the same width as the nave. The same stones were used in this new chancel arch as the original arch. These arcades were founded by Sir John Saville and a member of the Thornhill family.
At the end of the 14th century the nave was extended north and south. The inner walls were taken down and outer aisles built, looking similar to its present day shape.
During the fifteenth century a good deal of alterations were carried out evidently by local craftsmen. The chancel was extended and the windows, square-headed type, the church being predominantly perpendicular. The east tower was built in 1490, square squat and solidly built. The interesting east window was put in during the same year. Of the twenty-one compartments in the window eleven are original, the other ten probably added between 1856-66, when the church was restored.
Brief details of the east window are as follows:
1. The Annunciation to St.Anne, Mother of Mary.
2. The meeting of Joachim and Anne at the Golden Gate.
3. The Birth of the Blessed Virgin.
4. The woman annointing the Lords feet - modern.
5. The presentation of the Lord in the Temple - modern.
6. The Betrothal of Mary and Joseph.
7. The Assumption of the Virgin.
8. Christ's entry into Jerusalem - modern.
9. Christ in Glory - modern.
10. The Ascension of the Lord.
11. The Resurrection.
12. The Crucifiction - modern.
13. The Institution of the Eucharist - modern.
14. The Adoration of the Magi.
15. The Baptism of the Lord - modern.
16. The Descent of the Holy Ghost.
17. The Agony in the Garden - modern.
18. The Annunciation.
19. The Visitation.
20. The Nativity - modern.
21. The Carrying of the Cross - modern.
The east window of stained glass depicts the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The first vestry was erected at this time and probably used by the priest as his robing room. The first porch was also built but pulled down in 1669 and rebuilt. The latter porch is the one in existance today. The first vestry was under the altar, while the next one was added on to the church and pulled down in the early 19th century. The present vestry was built in 1879. It appears that a great deal of work was done in the church at the end of the 15th century.
During the middle of the 16th century there was great upheaval in the church throuhout the country due to King Henry VIII and his Reformation. The King made himself head of the Church and forced the churches to sevef all connections with the Archbishop of Rome, unlike the rest of the Christians in Europe who were generally devoted to the Church of Rome. During the reformation the monastries were destroyed which Yorkshire people resented. The people voiced their annoyance against the act but were brutally put down.
Up to 1550 all services were in Latin, the English language was still being developed, and Mass was held daily. After this date the Bible was translated and the prayer book services translated into English. During the Elizabethan Stuart ers Holy Communion was held at the most once a week.
During the 17th century the church had become very complacent and congregations were dwindling. During the 18th century a priest by the name of John Wesley started to rouse the people and encourage them back to religion, but in doing so alienated some people by his speeches. Because of some of his speeches many people left the established church and formed new religious societies. The Effects in Elland were not as great as in some areas and the church carried on much as before. John Wesley preached at Elland on 21st April 1759, on his way to Stainland, and again on 9th August 1762.
Although the original floor of the church was bare earth, due to burials inside the church the floor would eventually be largely covered with tombstones. The rest of the floor was eventually covered with stone flags.The date when the clock was installed is not certain but was apparently in need of repair in 1648. In 1671 the clock face was re-gilded. Later that year a new clock was installed. Another clock was purchased in1688 and the old one taken to Ripponden Church and installed there. In 1844 it was decided to obtain subscriptions for a new clock, but the clock was retained until 1911, when a new four-dial clock was installed.
The first bell is thought to have been at the east end of the nave and to be of Norman origin. The bell would be rung to inform sick people and labourers in the fields how far a service had progressed. Other bells have been in the church from at least the middle of the 17th century. These bells were replaced in 1826.
The only seating in the early church would have been around the walls. These would be for the use of the aged and the sick. The rest of the congregation would stand or kneel on the floor. Eventually moveable benches were used. The benches had to be moveable because the church was used by the local community for all types of activities. The first pews were installed by members of the congregation of their design, at their own expense, and were made of oak. Later pews were made of deal, but still of different designs and at the congregations individual expense.
At the beginning of the 19th century the population of Elland doubled. At this time there was an increase in the popularity of the church mainly due to the inspiration of a group of clergy from the University of Oxford. This increased popularity together with an increase in the population meant that the church was not large enough to accept the new congregation. To accommodate the increased congregation, two new galleries were built on to the church. The first organ was erected in one of the new galleries, the chancel gallery, in 1805 along with accomodation for the choir. The organ, hand blown, was powered by men from the local work-house.
In the 1850's major restoration work was begun, as a result of the church being described as 'a mutilated and delapidated edifice'. Restoration was started with the raising of the belfry roof, while at the same time the bells were improved. There had benn a ceiling put into the church at the same time. This ceiling was removed and the open roof resored, and the old chancel arch revealed. The galleries erected at the beginning of the century were pulled down. These galleries were no longer needed because of dwindling congregations due to the increase in popularity of non-conformity. With the pulling down of the chancel gallery which housed the organ it was necessary to install a new organ. This organ was installed on the site of a previous wooden vestry. During the restoration, the gravestones which had covered the floor were overlaid with tiles. At the same time, new oak pews were installed of a standard design, giving some uniformity to the church seating. The last burial to take place within the church was probably that of Martha Rushworth who died on 7th March 1853.
As stated earlier some of the glass in the east window is modern. The lower part of the window contained plain glass and was replaced during this period with stained glass. This accounts for five compartments being of modern glass. the remaing five modern compartments probably being repaired at the same time. In 1853 a new pulpit was put up replacing the 'three-decker' type installed in 1826. The original 12th century pulpit would be a moveable one. The 1853 pulpit is in use today. In 1850 a new font was put up, but this was replaced after the restoration of a previous font which was first put up in 1662, two years after the restoration of the Monarchy. The first font was used until 1651 when it was compulsorily removed and a simple bowl used in its place. The only other window of importance is in the west wing which is made up of fragments of glass from other windows. Just before the restoration of the church, gas was installed, this was in 1849. Gas lighting then took over from candles. The main restoration took place between 1856-66 at the end of which the Royal Standard was hoisted, the bells peeled and the people of Elland rejoicing and hurrying to the church for 11-0'clock for the re-opening.
Over the years the church bells have been an important part of the communications system of the community indicationg important events to the local people. In 1894 the bells were re-cast.
Between 1872 and 1892 a new organ was erected in St.Johns Chapel in the church and overhauled and improved in 1917.
In 1920 electric lighting was installed in the church and in 1949 the organ was rebuilt with an electric blower. This organ is still used today.