Assistant Ministers at Kildwick: A Historical Overview 

From the late 16th century onwards, the parish of Kildwick was served not only by its vicars but also by a long succession of assistant ministers and curates, reflecting both the growth of the Church of England and the changing needs of parish life.

In the earliest period, assistant ministers were usually appointed when a vicar held more than one living and could not reside permanently in Kildwick. The first known assistant minister was William Harrison, who served between 1599 and 1606. Like several of his successors, his presence is traced primarily through parish registers, where assistant clergy often signed as “minister” or “clericus” rather than vicar.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, curates such as Roger Brearley, Richard Pollard, and James Barber provided essential pastoral care, especially during periods of non-residence or advanced age among vicars. Some assistants went on to become vicars of Kildwick themselves, while others moved on to significant ministries elsewhere in England and abroad.

During the 19th century, the role of assistant curates became more formalised, with licensed stipends, clearer duties, and preserved episcopal licences. This period saw a particularly rich succession of clergy, including John Green, Nathaniel Liberty, Frederick Stainton Tireman, and John Dale Wawn, many of whom began their ordained ministry at Kildwick before moving on to parishes across Yorkshire, the south of England, and even overseas.

Several curates left a lasting mark on the parish and its surrounding communities. Notably, John Dale Wawn played a central role in developing church life in Cononley, where his efforts eventually led to the building and consecration of a new church. Later in the century, the growth of neighbouring settlements such as Steeton led to further pastoral expansion, with Kildwick curates becoming the first incumbents of newly formed parishes.

Taken together, this record highlights Kildwick’s long-standing role as both a mother parish and a formative training ground for clergy. Across more than three centuries, assistant ministers ensured continuity of worship, pastoral care, and sacramental life, shaping not only the parish itself but also the wider Church through their subsequent ministries.