About Us
Hoylandswaine Village
St John the Evangelist church serves the parish of Hoylandswaine, a pleasant rural village of approximately 550 households, situated two miles from the South Yorkshire market town of Penistone and adjoins the villages of Cawthorne and Silkstone. With farming being the only significant industry in the village itself, Hoylandswaine is largely a rural commuter village for surrounding towns and cities. Housing developments surrounding the church have meant that the village has significantly expanded over the last three decades with modern family homes alongside the original stone built cottages.
Hoylandswaine has a small primary school. Although no longer a church school, the headteacher is keen to continue links with the church. The village is well served with a sports club and a village hall adjacent to a well-used cricket field and bowling green. There are two pubs; a “country eater” and a small ‘village local’.
There is a strong community spirit with a village events group keen to organise and support activities aimed at creating a strong community.
The Building
The grade II listed church building dates back to 1869, the mid Victorian era and was provided for the village by the Spencer-Stanhope family of Cannon Hall in Cawthorne. It is a modest example of Gothic Revival architecture by Huddersfield architect, William Henry Crossland and houses a mural painted by John Roddam Spencer-Stanhope, an artist of the Pre-Raphaelite school and a stained glass window of a design by Edward Burne Jones and supplies by William Morris & Co.
An in-depth history of the building and some of its significant features can be found following the link to the Heritage Silkstone website below.
https://www.heritagesilkstone.co.uk/_files/ugd/7756be_eb15dfc2bc804fd78eda4dc6ec96de31.pdf
The Church Community
Our church is more than a Victorian building of historical interest. The building is the base for our Christian community, charged with a mission in the 21st century.
· To look upwards to God, the one who made us and understands us because he’s been here in the form of Jesus. He gives us a purpose in life, guidance, hope and joy. We therefore connect with God in worship offering learning and teaching to all who are curious to know more.
· To look inwards sharing our lives and supporting each other.
· To look outwards responding to human need in the wider community and safeguarding God’s creation.