Welcome to our parish church which is of exceptional historical and architectural interest - Grade 1 listed. There was a Saxon church on the site by 1050 AD. By 1086 William the Conqueror’s tax collector records in the Doomsday book  Medelai, a village with 23 households, a church and a priest, the Manor being valued at 60 shillings. By 1250 a larger Norman church was built, with the roof raised to its current height by 1350. By 1400 a South aisle was added. Sir Robert Waterton in his will of 1425 included a Chantry Chapel and three priest so that Masses could be said for his soul. In the 1920s the Chancel was replaced and extended adding a new Vestry. 

In more recent times Henry Moore visited the church as a child. “Methley Church, just outside Castleford, contains the first real sculptures I remember. I was very impressed by these recumbent effigy figures, particularly by the simplicity of the woman’s head” (Henry Moore, Hedgecoe, 1986).   Sebastiano Barassi and James Copper, 'Henry Moore and Stone: Methods and Materials' (Henry Moore: Sculptural Process and Public Identity) | Tate

For more information on Methley history please follow the link to Methley Archive https://www.methleyarchive.org/

We take part in the annual Heritage Open Days week in September.  https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/about 

We are grateful for the support of Frei Compagnie who join us during Heritage Open Days with a display of medieval heritage https://www.towton.org.uk/frei-compagnie/history-of-group/

We have added part 1 (North side) and part 2 (South side) of the detailed self-guide. A hard copy of the guide can be viewed in church.

If you have any comments or questions about to the heritage in Methley Church please contact via the Get in touch page on the website. The church is always open for visitors Sunday and Wednesday afternoon 2-4pm in the Summer. From November to April opening times are 2-3:30pm Sunday afternoon. 

Page updated 28/9/23