Before the Normans: Kildwick’s First Christians

The story of St Andrew’s begins long before the present church. We cannot say exactly when the first church was built at Kildwick, but there is compelling evidence that this was already an important Christian place during the tenth century.

During restoration work in 1901, nine fragments of carved stone were discovered, some at the base of a chancel pillar and others reused in the sixteenth-century north wall of the chancel. These are the remains of carved stone crosses which once stood at Kildwick.

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Modern study by the Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture dates the principal surviving pieces to the tenth century. Kildwick 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 are all assigned to that century, while the remaining fragments are considered probably or possibly to belong to the same period.

A meeting of cultures

The stones offer a fascinating glimpse into Kildwick more than a thousand years ago.

Their carving combines older Anglian Christian traditions with influences from the Anglo-Scandinavian world which developed across northern England following Scandinavian settlement.

One of the most remarkable fragments, known as Kildwick 1, shows a haloed figure believed to represent Christ. Five rectangular objects appear beneath him. Earlier scholars suggested different interpretations, but Elizabeth Coatsworth concludes that the most likely scene is the Miracle of the Five Loaves and Two Fishes. She also notes that its Christian imagery suggests continuing ecclesiastical involvement in the production of the sculpture.

Other stones display interlace, twists, rings and cross forms which similarly mix older Anglian traditions with the artistic language of Anglo-Scandinavian Yorkshire. Kildwick 7, for example, retains an Anglian form while its simplified interlace is characteristic of the Anglo-Scandinavian period.

More than one cross

The nine fragments do not appear simply to be pieces of a single monument.

The Corpus identifies differences in workmanship between them. Kildwick 4, 5 and 6 appear to have been carved by a different craftsman from Kildwick 1, 2 and 3. Kildwick 5 may even be another part of the same shaft as Kildwick 4.

This suggests that several carved monuments once stood at Kildwick, perhaps created at different times during the tenth century.

We do not know exactly where they originally stood or what the surrounding site looked like. Nor can the stones themselves prove the date at which the first church building was constructed. What they do demonstrate is the presence of an established Christian community at Kildwick in the century before the Norman Conquest.

Was there a church here in AD 950?

The date AD 950 has traditionally been associated with Kildwick's carved stones. Earlier scholarship placed them around the middle of the tenth century.

Modern scholarship is more cautious. The Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture generally dates the Kildwick pieces simply to the tenth century, rather than assigning them to a particular decade.

It is therefore better to say that Christian worship was established at Kildwick during the tenth century, rather than claiming that St Andrew's was founded in AD 950.

The carved stones tell us that Christianity at Kildwick is more than a thousand years old. Exactly when the first church was built remains one of the mysteries of the site's early history.

By 1086: a church at Kildwick

Here the evidence becomes much firmer.

The Domesday Book of 1086 records a church at Kildwick. By then the existence of a church building is no longer a matter of archaeological interpretation but documentary fact.

That means the history of Christian worship at Kildwick can be traced through three levels of evidence:

Tenth century: carved crosses provide strong evidence for an established Christian community.

Before 1066: the evidence makes an Anglo-Saxon foundation for the church very likely, although we cannot yet give the first building a precise date.

1086: Domesday provides the first certain written record of a church at Kildwick.

The present St Andrew's has been rebuilt, enlarged and altered many times since then, but its story belongs to a Christian site whose origins reach back more than a thousand years.

10/09/2026

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.
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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
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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