Wadsley Parish Church

The first mention of a church for the Wadsley area was in 1751 when an agreement between William Burton, Lord of the Manor of Wadsley and Margaret Bamforth, Lady of the Manor of Owlerton was drawn up to build a chapel of ease within the parish of Ecclesfield. The agreement stated that the Church of St. Mary, Ecclesfield, was too far distant for the ill or infirm to travel for divine service. However nothing further came of this agreement until the 1830s. The church was eventually built between the years 1832 and 1834 at a total cost of £3,500 by Joseph Potter. It is in the Gothic style with much use of Lancet arches and has cast iron piers. The money for construction was put forward by two…

Fleester Field was chosen as the site for the church at the top of gently sloping meadowland. The plans for the building were re-drafted a number of times before being approved by the Harrison sisters. In the Autumn of 1832 the site was marked out by the builder and on 22 October 1832 the foundation stone was laid. 600 children who attended the local Sunday Schools were present at the laying of the stone which was carried out using a silver trowel by William Wilson, the uncle of the Harrison sisters. The church was opened on 21 May 1834, 20 days late; the delay was caused by a change in the design of the spire. The first service was led by Reverend S. Langton of St George's Church,…

The church underwent a major renovation and facelift in 2002–03: side balconies were removed and the rear balcony was extended over the new amenities which included a quiet room, a kitchen, and a larger welcome area. An office and a new toilet block were added to the exterior of the church on either side of the spire. A baptistry (a tank used for baptism by immersion) was also added, although the conventional font was retained.