Explore St Andrew's

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A brief history

St Andrew’s Church in Kildwick is one of the oldest places of Christian worship in the region, with evidence suggesting a church on this site as early as 950 AD. Saxon stone blocks found in the building during twentieth-century restorations point to this early origin.

The church is mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086, when Kildwick was one of only two places in the ancient Deanery of Craven recorded as having a church.

Medieval Foundations

While parts of the current building date from the 14th century, some sections — especially the four west bays — preserve 12th-century work, showing the long, layered history of the structure. After a period of turmoil in the early 1300s when the surrounding valleys suffered raids, the church was rebuilt around 1320, including its tower, aisles, and nave.

In the 16th century, during the reign of Henry VIII, St Andrew’s was lengthened significantly, eventually measuring over 145 feet. This unusual length for a parish church earned it the affectionate local nickname the “Lang Kirk o’ Craven”.

Later Additions and Restorations

The building has seen careful care and improvement over many generations:

The south porch was rebuilt in 1873, and adjustments made to the church entrances in the late 1800s helped unify floor levels.

Extensive Victorian-era restoration took place in 1901–1903, during which Anglo-Saxon stone fragments were uncovered and are now displayed within the church.

St Andrew’s also contains historic treasures including a Norman font and the effigy of Sir Robert Styveton, a Knight Templar, carved from the same stone type used in York Minster.

Heritage and Life Today

The church was designated a Grade I listed building in 1954, recognising its exceptional architectural and historic importance.

St Andrew’s remains a living place of worship and community gathering, serving the parish of Kildwick, Cononley & Bradley while preserving more than a thousand years of Christian witness on this remarkable site.

Visit St Andrew's Church

We have a number of leaflets to help guide you around the different aspects of heritage in St Andrew’s.

War Graves

We have five War Graves in our churchyard. You can find out more about them in our leaflet that can be accessed here.

Church Guide

We also have a guide to help you find out about or heritage as you walk around the church. You can access this online here.

Local History Society

There is an active local history society in Kildwick that have done lots of research on St Andrew's. You can access their articles here.

You will find articles such as:

A History of Kildwick Parish
Vicars of St Andrew's
When St Andrew's nearly fell down
Kildwick Parish Library
++Drummonds visitation 1764
Kildwick Organ Grave
A History of Kildwick Bells & Ringers
The Ianson Grave
Dating a Church Photo

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