Heritage 

 
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.)

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.

The old Methodist Church (The Church Centre)

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