The Vicars of Kildwick: A Living History 

The parish of Kildwick has been served by a remarkable succession of clergy for over seven centuries. The earliest known ecclesiastical figure connected with the parish is Rodb’, Capellanus de Kildwick, recorded in a charter dating from the 12th century. From the late 13th century onwards, records allow us to trace an almost unbroken line of vicars, offering a unique window into the spiritual, social, and political life of the parish across the centuries.

From the institution of Roger de Skipton in 1272, through medieval England, the Reformation, the Civil War, and into the modern period, Kildwick’s vicars ministered during times of enormous national upheaval. Early incumbents were often presented by the Prior and Canons of Bolton Priory, reflecting Kildwick’s medieval monastic connections. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, patronage passed to the Dean and Canons of Christ Church, Oxford, who continued to appoint vicars for centuries thereafter.

Across around fifty recorded vicars over roughly 750 years, the average length of incumbency was around fourteen and a half years. Some served briefly; others for decades. Notably, Robert Whixley, instituted in 1514, appears to have served for more than fifty years, spanning the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I—adapting to extraordinary religious change while remaining parish priest of Kildwick.

The records reveal vivid personal details: vicars who rebuilt the vicarage after the Civil War, those who held multiple livings, family tragedies recorded in parish registers, and memorials still visible in the church today. Later incumbents such as John Topham and Thomas Marsden oversaw improvements to church property, augmentation of the living, and lasting memorials in stained glass and stone. Marsden’s ministry also coincided with intense local debate over tithes, a national issue that would eventually lead to the Tithe Commutation Act of 1838.

Together, these accounts show how the parish has been shaped not only by buildings and benefactors, but by generations of clergy whose lives were deeply interwoven with the community they served. The story of Kildwick’s vicars is, in many ways, the story of the parish itself—faithful ministry carried on through continuity, change, and resilience.