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SILKSTONE ALL SAINTS & ST JAMES THE GREATER

A warm welcome to our church, the ‘Minster of the Moors’ since the 12th century. It is a beautiful, peaceful, ancient, stately church situated on a knoll within a large and well kept churchyard, and is well worth discovery.

The building has monastic foundations, well prior to 1066, and has been a Christian place of worship for well over 1000 years. The current Grade I listed building is 14th century, but has been altered and reshaped over time.

Around 1100 the Saxon Lord Ailric owned many of the surrounding villages and townships. Lord Ilbert de Lacy granted out his fee to Ailric who thus retained his possession of Silkstone. It was here he built his church.

The church has an 80ft tower, which originally stood over the chancel but was moved to the west end in 1495. It holds 6 bells, the oldest is 498 years and the youngest is 290 years old. Look out for striking flying buttresses, battlemented parapets and pinnacles. There are many original gargoyles still in good condition, and three new sculptured figures. There are also many interesting tombstones, ledger tombs and table tombs. One the edge of the churchyard is the Huskar Monument, erected to commemorate the drowning of 26 children in the Huskar Pit Disaster in 1838.

There is much to see in this wonderful church including an intricately carved 14th century rood screen, green men, Victorian box pews, beautiful stained glass and a wonderfully Royal Coat of Arms, carved on both sides with a lion and unicorn reverse. The church is also home to some fine memorials, including one of the finest examples of a knight in armour from 1675.

If you know anything more about the heritage of this site and would like us to include it here please contact us.