The first Norman church at Halifax is considered to be from about 1120 but there may have been a Saxon church before that. The monks of the Cluniac Priory of Lewes in Sussex were given the Halifax portion of the Manor of Wakefield by the  second Earl of Warrenne between 1106 and 1121.

This Norman church was much smaller than the present church and was situated to the north of today's building. In fact, part of the interior of the north wall today was the exterior of the south wall of that earlier church. You can still see some of the distinctive Norman chevrons carved into the stones in that wall and in other parts of the church where the stone was re-used by the later masons.

As the town prospered with the wealth of the wool trade the present church was built with the help of a bequest by Vicar John King. Vicar Thomas Wilkinson saw to this building work which started around 1438. The architecture and features of the church are a magnet for the history detective and many theories have been put forward as to the order in which the various parts of the church were built.

When Vicar Wilkinson died in 1480 the church building was much the same as it is today, apart from the two side chapels. The Rokeby Chapel and The Holdsworth Chapel were built in the sixteenth century after vicars of those names.

Woodwork

We are justifiably proud of our woodwork at Halifax Parish Church. The miserere stalls in the choir date from the late fifteenth century, but the masks on each side of the choir aisle are much older. The stalls  in the sanctuary are of particularly fine workmanship and are thought to have come from Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds at its dissolution by Henry VIII.

The Jacobean altar rails are stunning woodwork and were made in 1698. The pews, also Jacobean, date from 1633. Many old pew labels can be seen on display beneath the tower: each pew used to be the property of its occupier.

The most distinctive woodwork in the church maybe the fifteenth century font cover which was originally painted green, red and blue.

Finally, the wooden ceiling panels of the choir and nave which are decorated with the coats of arms of local families, vicars and the twelve tribes of Israel are an interesting distraction during services!

Old Tristram

At the back of the church and straight in front of you as you walk in, stands Old Tristram. He is said to have been a licensed beggar in the seventeenth century: he still begs today for the poor of Halifax.

The Organ

In 1766 a famous organ builder, John Snetzler, built an organ for the Halifax Parish Church. Many of the pipes are incorporated into the present organ which was built in 1928 by Harrison & Harrison of Durham and London. The organ is one of the finest in any parish church in England. Recitals are held regularly by a variety of accomplished organists, not least our own Mr. Philip Tordoff.

Windows

Most of the glass in the church is Victorian with a few notable exceptions. The Commonwealth windows from the time of Oliver Cromwell are beautiful plain glass windows set in an attractive pattern. The oldest glass is set in the small windows at the west end of the south wall. This glass is medieval but does not form any picture, only a colourful pattern.

The Library

The church boasts an historical library including eight volumes printed prior to 1488. The library is now in the hands of the University of York in a controlled environment.

The Registers

The parish registers stretch back to 1538 and cover a large area of the ancient parish of Halifax. We hope to provide some information from these records and registers of the church in this space. This task is a mammoth one and may not be completed for some time. In the meantime we are working with the West Yorkshire Archive Service who keep the majority of our records, and with The Calderdale Family History Society who can supply transcribed volumes of our registers for nominal fees by secure server.