The Norman Church

A new church for a new age

Whatever form Kildwick’s earlier church took, it was substantially rebuilt in stone during the great period of Norman church building in the early twelfth century, probably between about 1100 and 1135.

Parts of that Norman building still survive within St Andrew’s today, allowing us to trace something of its original extent.

What did the Norman church look like?

The Norman church was considerably smaller than the present St Andrew’s.

Its precise appearance cannot now be reconstructed with certainty, but evidence within the later building gives important clues to its size and form.

The church appears to have consisted of a nave with north and south aisles and a chancel at the eastern end. Its eastern end lay much further west than the present chancel, so the Norman church would have been noticeably shorter than the exceptionally long building we see today.

Evidence for its original extent survives within the present nave. Differences in the architecture and masonry of the western part of the church reveal where the earlier building survives and where later generations extended and rebuilt it.

The western part of today’s church therefore occupies ground that has been part of St Andrew’s for around nine centuries.

The Norman arcades

Some of the most important evidence for the Norman church can be seen in the arcades separating the nave from the aisles.

At the western end of the nave, surviving twelfth-century work can still be distinguished from the later medieval architecture further east. Massive round columns, rounded arches and other details preserve part of the church built here during the Norman period.

These are not simply stones taken from an earlier church and reused somewhere else. They are surviving parts of the Norman building itself.

Standing among them today, a visitor is standing within the Norman St Andrew’s.

A church at the heart of medieval Craven

The Norman church served a parish far larger than the modern parish of Kildwick, Cononley and Bradley.

The ancient parish eventually embraced communities including Kildwick, Farnhill, Silsden, Steeton, Eastburn, Bradley, Cowling, Cononley, Glusburn and Sutton-in-Craven.

St Andrew’s was therefore not simply the church of one village. It stood at the centre of the religious life of communities spread across a considerable part of Craven.

During the medieval period the church also became closely connected with the Augustinian Canons, first at Embsay and later at Bolton Priory. The Priory held rights in the church and received much of its income, establishing a relationship that would shape the life of Kildwick for centuries.

What happened to the Norman church?

The Norman church did not disappear all at once.

Instead, later generations enlarged and rebuilt it around parts of the surviving structure.

Major rebuilding took place during the early fourteenth century, transforming the church while retaining some of its Norman fabric. Further enlargement followed in succeeding centuries, most dramatically in the sixteenth century when the building was extended eastwards to create the exceptionally long church we see today.

Eventually St Andrew’s reached more than 165 feet from east to west, earning its affectionate local name, the “Lang Kirk o’ Craven”.

Yet the Norman church was never entirely lost.

The Norman church you can still see

More than nine hundred years after it was built, part of the Norman church remains incorporated into St Andrew’s.

Stand at the western end of the nave and look at its great rounded arches and massive columns. Imagine the later medieval extensions removed and the church ending much sooner than it does today.

What remains allows us to do something remarkable.

We do not simply know that there was a Norman church at Kildwick.

We can still stand inside it.

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