Explore St John's

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St John’s Church stands as a testament to the faith, generosity, and resilience of the people of Cononley. Its story is closely tied to the growth of the village and the wider renewal of church life during the nineteenth century.

Beginnings in Education and Worship

In the mid-nineteenth century, the Church of England responded to the growth of Non-Conformist churches by investing in new buildings and parishes. In Cononley, this began in 1846 with the opening of a National School at New Inn Fold, built on land given by the Revd John Swire. The building served both as a school and a place of worship, and on 26 April 1846 the first Anglican service was held there by the Curate of Kildwick.

The first curate to live in the village was the Revd John Dale Wawn, who served from 1854 to 1865. During this time, the congregation grew in confidence and number. He lodged locally at Laburnum Cottage with William and Mary Towers; William Towers was Cononley’s first postmaster and later a schoolmaster.

Building St John’s Church

Plans for a permanent church building were made before the death of the John Swire in 1860, as he had promised to provide land for the site. After his death, however, the land had to be purchased. The cost was met through grants and local subscriptions, with the largest personal donation made by the Duke of Devonshire.

The Church of St John the Evangelist was built in the Victorian Gothic style and consecrated on 25 July 1864. The original interior featured decorative paintwork, giving it a richer appearance than the plainer interior seen today. A notable later addition is the oak chancel screen, installed in 1893 by Mrs Wawn in memory of her husband. (Now the screen between the nave and the narthex.)
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A Parish Church

In 1871, a new parish was created under the title The District Chapelry of Saint John the Evangelist, Cononley-with-Bradley. Its boundaries did not entirely match the civil parish, as land west of Netherghyll Bridge already belonged to the parish of Lothersdale.

The first vicar was the Revd James Wynn, who served until his death in 1886. The parish’s first vicarage was created from the office of a lead mine and became known as Netherghyll House. As Wynn’s family grew to include nine children, the house was enlarged. Eventually, a more suitable site was found closer to the village, and a new vicarage was completed on Cross Hills Road in 1890, now known as St John’s House.

Growth and Change

By the early twentieth century, St John’s was a thriving parish church. A record 83 communicants attended the Easter services in 1909. Plans to extend the church were approved in 1914, but the outbreak of the First World War meant the scheme was never carried out.

The churchyard was enlarged to its present size in 1919. Over time, the church adapted to new technologies: originally lit by candles and oil lamps, it later used gas lighting, and finally electricity, which was installed in the church in 1941.

Fire and Recovery

On 25 November 1946, St John’s was badly damaged by fire. Much of the roof was destroyed, the organ was lost, and the vestry was gutted. Villagers helped save many of the church’s possessions by carrying them from the burning building. Remarkably, the stained glass, war memorial, and altar survived largely unharmed.

While repairs were carried out, worship continued for three years in the nearby Mount Zion Chapel on Back Lane. The church was eventually restored and returned to use, continuing its place at the heart of village life.

St John’s Today

Through times of growth, challenge, and renewal, St John’s Church has remained a place of worship, community, and witness in Cononley. Its history reflects the enduring commitment of generations who have cared for the building and the faith it represents.

Further Information

The Cononley Village Heritage Group has lots of information about St John's, the now-demolished Methodist Church, and the village itself.

You can access that here.

Information and some photographs from the book A History of Cononley - An Airedale Village by Trevor Hodgson & David Gulliver (2000)

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Welcome

If you're new to church, new to the area, returning after some time away, or simply wondering whether church might be for you, you are very welcome at Kildwick, Cononley & Bradley.

You don't need to know what to do, what to say or even what you believe. Just come as you are. Our churches are places where people can worship, ask questions, find friendship and explore faith together.

We are one parish with three churches: St Andrew's Kildwick, St John's Cononley and The Bradley Church. Each is a little different, but wherever you join us, we hope you will find a warm welcome.

Find our Sunday services

What are we about?

At the heart of our life together is Jesus Christ and his call to love God and love our neighbour.

For many years we have expressed our mission in four simple words:

Sharing, Caring, Growing in Christ

In Christ

Everything begins with God's love for us in Jesus Christ. We don't come to church because we have everything sorted out. We come to worship, to pray, to learn and to discover more of what it means to follow Jesus.

Growing

Faith is a journey. None of us has all the answers, and there is always more to discover. Through worship, prayer, the Bible and one another, we seek to grow in faith and in our understanding of God.

Caring

Following Jesus means caring for one another and for the communities around us. We seek to put God's love into practice through friendship, compassion, service and care for our neighbours.

Sharing

The good news of Jesus is something to be shared. We want to share God's hope, love and peace through what we say, but also through how we live and how we serve others.

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This is reflected in our vision for the parish:

Living out our faith, rooted in service; embracing everybody equally.

We want these to be more than words. They describe the kind of Christian community we are seeking to become.

What happens if I come on Sunday?

You don't need to book or let us know that you're coming. Just turn up.

Our services vary across our three churches. Some are traditional celebrations of Holy Communion, while others are more informal. You can find the time and location of this week's services on our Sunday Services page.

When you arrive, there will usually be someone to welcome you and give you anything you need for the service. You are welcome to sit wherever you like.

Don't worry if you aren't familiar with the service or don't know when to stand or sit. Just follow along as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. Nobody will mind if you get something 'wrong'.

See our Sunday services

Do I need to be a Christian?

No.

You might have been a Christian for many years, be returning to church after a long time away, have lots of questions, or simply be curious.

You don't have to have faith sorted out before coming to church. Exploring, questioning and sometimes doubting are all part of the journey.

Whatever your background, faith or spiritual beliefs, you are welcome.

What should I wear?

Whatever you normally wear!

There is no dress code. Some people dress smartly, others come in jeans and trainers. Come in whatever makes you comfortable.

What about children?

Children and families are very welcome at our churches.

We know that children make noise, move around and don't always behave like adults, and that's absolutely fine. Please don't worry about having to keep them perfectly quiet.

We also have activities especially for children and families throughout the year.

Find out about Children & Families

Will I be expected to give money?

No.

There may be an opportunity to give during or after a service, but visitors should never feel under any pressure to contribute. Please simply be our guest.

Can I receive Communion?

If you normally receive Holy Communion in your own church, you are welcome to receive with us.

If you would prefer not to receive Communion, you are still very welcome to come forward for a blessing, or simply remain in your seat. There is no pressure either way.

Accessibility

Accessibility varies between our three historic church buildings. You can find specific access information on each church's page, or please contact us if we can help you plan your visit.

Getting involved

Coming to a Sunday service is only one way to be part of our parish.

Throughout the week there are opportunities to meet people, pray, learn, sing, serve our communities and simply spend time together. Have a look at our What's On pages to see what might interest you.

You can also sign up for our weekly email newsletter to find out what's happening across Kildwick, Cononley & Bradley.

See What's On
Get our Weekly Newsletter

Still have questions?

Please get in touch. It doesn't matter whether your question is about a service, accessibility, children, faith, or simply which of our churches might be right for you.

We would be very happy to help.

Contact Us

A word from Mike

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I'm Mike Green, the Vicar of Kildwick, Cononley & Bradley.

Finding your way into a church for the first time can sometimes feel daunting, particularly if you're not sure what to expect. I hope you'll discover that you don't need to know the right words, understand everything we do, or have all the answers before you come.

Whoever you are, and wherever you are on your journey of faith, there is a place for you here.

I hope we'll have the opportunity to welcome you in person soon.

Best wishes,
Revd Mike