The Fire at St John’s, 1946

On a November afternoon in 1946, disaster struck St John’s.

A serious fire swept through the church, destroying much of the roof and the organ and leaving the vestry gutted. Yet the story of that day is not simply one of destruction. It is also a story of villagers rushing to save their church, of a congregation finding a temporary home elsewhere in Cononley, and of St John’s eventually being restored and reopened.

Fire breaks out

The fire began on the afternoon of Monday 25 November 1946.

It spread rapidly through the building. By the time it was brought under control, around three-quarters of the roof had been destroyed. The organ was lost and the vestry was badly damaged.

For a church that had stood for little more than eighty years, the scale of the damage was devastating.

But as the fire took hold, people in Cononley did not simply stand and watch.

The village comes to the rescue

Villagers entered the church and began carrying its contents to safety.

Furniture and other possessions were removed from the burning building and taken away from danger. A remarkable photograph from the time records some of the church furnishings being carried through Main Street while the fire was still being dealt with.

Their efforts meant that not everything was lost.

Despite the intensity of the fire, the stained-glass windows, war memorial and altar were virtually undamaged.

The roof could be rebuilt and the organ replaced. Some of the things which connected the church with previous generations had survived.

What caused the fire?

The cause of the fire was not entirely clear.

One explanation was that an overheated pipe had started the blaze. However, this did not convince everyone.

The Vicar, the Revd Norman Stocks, appears to have had doubts about the explanation offered by the fire brigade, while some people suspected that the fire might have been started deliberately.

No firm evidence recorded in the history of Cononley resolves the question, so the precise cause should not be stated with certainty.

The fire itself, however, had left St John’s unusable.

A church without a building

The congregation now faced a practical question.

Where could they worship?

The answer came from another part of Cononley’s Christian story.

The congregation moved to the former Mount Zion Chapel in Back Lane, where worship continued while St John’s was repaired.

For approximately three years, the Anglican congregation of Cononley worshipped in a building which had belonged to another Christian tradition.

It is a striking episode in the history of the village. At a moment when St John’s could no longer provide a home for its congregation, another of Cononley’s places of worship did.

Rebuilding St John’s

The damage caused by the fire required substantial reconstruction.

The destroyed roof had to be replaced, the interior repaired and the church made fit for worship once again. The restoration inevitably changed parts of the building, but enough had survived for St John’s to remain recognisably the church Cononley had known before the fire.

After three years away, the congregation was able to return.

The church which reopened was therefore both old and new: the Victorian St John’s of 1864, but also a church rebuilt after one of the most dramatic events in its history.

More than a building

The fire of 1946 could easily have marked the end of St John’s.

Instead, its story reveals something about the relationship between the church and the village around it.

When the building was in danger, people came to help. They carried its possessions from the flames. When the congregation had nowhere to worship, another chapel provided a home. And when the immediate crisis was over, St John’s was rebuilt.

The church standing in Cononley today therefore carries within it the story of that November afternoon.

Fire damaged the building. The people of Cononley helped ensure that the life of the church continued.

10/09/2026

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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.

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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