Friends of St John’s                          

Conserving our Heritage

 

 

 

 

 

The Friends of St. John’s is a non religious society dedicated to the conservation of St. John the Evangelist Church, Farsley.

 

Our Heritage

 

St. John’s is a fine example of early Victorian church architecture and, unlike most churches of its period, has remained largely unaltered since its consecration in 1843.

 

An obelisk close to the church porch and seven stained glass windows within the chancel and nave commemorate the Rev. Samuel Marsden.  Rev. Marsden was born in Farsley, almost opposite the church, at the site now occupied by the Samuel Marsden Memorial Garden. He was a key figure in establishing the wool trade between Australia/New Zealand and West

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yorkshire.  He became the first rector of the penal colony and also first incumbent of St John’s in Parramatta, Sydney (the first substantial church building in Australia).

 

The woollen and industrial history of Farsley can also be traced to St. John’s. Church inscriptions and records detail the births, deaths, lives and marriages of  the  Butler, Gaunt, Hainsworth, Roberts, Slater and Varley families, once significant local woollen mill and iron foundry owners.

 

To maintain this heritage, significant amounts of conservation and restoration work are required on an ongoing basis.  There is no central government or church of England fund to support us; it is up to local people to preserve it for this and future generations to enjoy.

Town Street Farsley

about 1900 looking south. 

St John’s clock tower remains

the focal point today.