St John the Baptist in the Wilderness
St John the Baptist in the Wilderness, Church Bank, Cragg Vale, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 5TF
Come and have a look round St John the Baptist in the Wilderness. Learn about it's rich history, from its building as one of the 'Million Pound' Churches, through the work of the Reverend Thomas Crowther to help improve the working conditions in the 7 cotton mills in the valley (by supporting the 'Ten hours Bill' and exposing the appalling conditions children, women and men had to work in), and many internal changes to its 'reordering' a few years ago to create a flexible community resource for use by anyone in the village and beyond!
Find out what happens in the building now - we have a lot more going on than just church services! We have barn dances and dock pudding breakfasts, fell races (start and finish point) and duck races, pantomimes and a 'Cragg Christmas Cracker', History group and Yorkshire Countrywomen's meetings to name just a few!
Help us plan for the future of St John's as part of the Cragg Vale community too. Tell us what events you'd like us to put on and what you or others could organise in the flexible spaces we have to let at very reasonable rates.
During our open day we will have some our baptism, marriage and burial records available to look at, some going back to the1830s when the present church was consecrated.
Alongside this we'll be offering refreshments throughout the day.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 13 September:
- 10am to 4pm
- Sunday 14 September:
- 12pm to 4pm
Location & directions
St John the Baptist in the Wilderness, Church Bank, Cragg Vale, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 5TF
- Directions:
- St John's is just down a steep hill (Church Bank) from the B6138 (Cragg Road) and is just before the Hinchliffe Arms pub. Parking is on the roadside by and beyond the church or in the pub car park (we'll talk to them before the event!
- Contact on day:
- Julie Harris
- Telephone number:
- +447443420907
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
There are 3 stone steps up to the church door but we do have a portable ramp for when needed. Access to the 1st floor is via a stone staircase so inaccessible to some (will hopefully have a lift installed by the end of this year).
