St Michael And All Angels Church, Great Houghton
St.Michael And All Angels Church, Church Street, Great Houghton, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S720BL
The church was originally a private chapel and was built by Sir Edward Rodes, the High Sheriff of Yorkshire who stood out conspicuously as a Parliamentarian, on the commencement of the civil wars, even though his brother-in-law was Lord Strafford and a Royalist.
On the 24th November 1908, the Earl of Crewe – who owned the chapel at that time, conveyed the building to the church of England to serve as a ‘Chapel of Ease’ in the Parish of Darfield. One of the clauses being ‘for the celebration of divine service in accordance with the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England as by law established’. The official title then became ‘Houghton Magna – Chapel of Ease’, which can still be seen on the memorial within the church.
As there was no record of the building ever being dedicated, this ceremony was performed by The Right Reverend G.V. Gerard CBE MC MA Assistant Bishop of Sheffield on the 17th December 1960, the dedication being – ‘St Michael and All Angels’.
St.Michael And All Angels Church, Church Street, Great Houghton, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S720BL
St.Michael And All Angels Church is one of only 3 Cromwellian Churches in the UK.