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Individual Summary Histories of 
The Churches in Otley - 2013

All Saints Church - Parish Church

The date and foundation of the Parish Church of All Saints is not known. There is little documentary evidence about any pre-Conquest church, but it is not unlikely the first church at Otley was built in the 8^th or 9^th century, and substantial surviving fragments of Anglo-Saxon crosses are evidence of this.

These were preaching crosses, and pre-date the erection of a church. Of the three principal ones, beside the Fairfax tomb and next to the font, one has busts of the Evangelists and is a unique piece of sculpture, known as the ‘Angel’ cross and dated 750 A.D. Another depicts two eagles with dragon’s tails, the details being clear cut and full of symbolic significance.This is the ‘Dragon’ cross, of date 800 A.D. A third is of completely different style with scrolls and strapwork, which is dated 860 A.D.

A full scale replica of a Saxon preaching cross was erected in the churchyard as a memorial to those who died fighting for our country. This was later moved to what is known as the War Memorial Gardens facing the Fire Station and each year an Act of Remembrance takes place there on November 11^th.

The first Norman church of the 12^th century, was built on the foundations of the Saxon structure, and is now the Chancel, which retains the Norman Piscina, aumbry and two small windows high up in the walls.

1240 A.D. The Church was enlarged by the addition of the Nave, Transepts and Tower and between 1485-1500 the two aisles were completed and the large East window inserted.

In 1851 the present roof and clerestory was added to the Nave and in 1867 further restoration included the removal of the two galleries which had been put up in the previous century, and the replacement of the old ‘box’ pews by the present oak seats.

The Tower contains eight bells which were last re-cast in 1922. The church clock, made by Harrison of Aberford, dates from 1793, at which time the unusual carillon was added. These played a different tune each day of the week but have not been heard in recent years. We have as yet not been able to find someone to repair this.

Notable monuments in the church include a brass dated 1593 recording the alliances of the Palmes of Ripon and the Lindleys of Lindley : the tomb of the first Lord and Lady Fairfax of Denton and the tombs of Vavasour of Stead, Fawkes, Barker, and Lacon amongst others. A recent survey by the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Society has provided us with two books detailing all the items inside the church and it suggests there is some controversy about the tomb in the chancel, originally thought to be that of John Hartley of Dyneley. Apparently some eight Dyneleys requested a burial in the chancel. The tomb is attributed variously to John Dyneley 1620 , John Dyneley 1606 and Robert Dyneley 1616. It is also suggested that what were interpreted as the arms of Dyneley are in fact those of the Townleys of Townley.

There are many beautiful stained glass windows. Many of them depict stories from the bible and were often donated in memory of or by local families. The East window, behind the altar, was installed in 1852 at a cost of £150. When it had to be restored in 2001, the cost of the glass and stonework repairs was £72.000. The main picture depicts Jesus and the four apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It is said that no matter where you stand in the chancel, the eyes of Jesus will be looking straight at you.

The Registers were commenced in 1562 and contain many interesting entries which include the signature of John Wesley who officiated at a wedding in 1788 and also the baptism of Thomas Chippendale in 1718.

The Church possesses a volume of extensive notes from sermons preached in the summer of 1642, just prior to the Civil War, in a few chapelries in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Most of the sermons recorded were preached here in Otley Parish Church and the book was found among the manuscripts of Charles Fairfax of Menston, son of Ferdinando, Lord Fairfax. The volume begins on the day when Charles 1^st entered Yok, Saturday March 17^th 1642. to a less than favourable welcome. The last sermon was preached on July 31^st of the same year.The great majority of the sermons were preached by two curates in Otley parish. David Ellison served the parish church town. ohn Cooper was a curate in Burley. t the time the parish of Otley covered an extensive area of Wharfedale.

There some 375 hand written pages, covering 44 sermons and these have not yet been transcribed in full. The handwriting is typical of its day, closely written and often using abbreviations peculiar to the time. The author remains unknown but the work was most certainly produced for a member of the Fairfax household and for a specific purpose. It has been described as a tactical instrument of political policy.

In the churchyard is a monument in memory of all the men who lost their lives in the construction of Bramhope Tunnel, between 1845-49. The unusual style represents in minature the entrance of the tunnel at Arthington.

The church is not a museum, but a living institution and remains, since its foundation as an active centre of life.

Today, 2012 we continue to have a full programme of services and events for all ages and tastes. The Mothers Union, started one hundred and twenty years ago by Mrs Horton Fawkes meets in the Parish Church and the Newall Ladies Fellowship group meets in our Newall Church Hall over the river There are brownies, guides, beavers, \z s and scouts , Baby Rascals and Little Rascals for mums and their babies and toddlers. There are coffee mornings and house study groups, a quiet mid-week communion service and several services each Sunday with an expanding Sunday Club for the young ones held during the Family service. Festival days in the church calender attract large congregations, most notably the Christingle service held on Christmas Eve when often some 500 plus children , parents and grandparents receive the traditional Christingle oranges.

Hopefully today’s Parish Registers will make interesting reading for future generations. They will record such events as: the marriage of Mark James, the golfer, to Jane in 1980 and the construction of the Parish room at the rear of the church during 1990/1. Situated in the former Baptistry this required special permission to move the font to its current position at the front of the church

In 2011 this space was completely renovated. During reconstruction 2 adult lead coffins, a childs burial site andseveral bones and skulls were uncovered. The lid of one of the adult coffins was clearly marked E. Cresswell.Junior and dated 1887.

The former church school on Burras Lane.was demolished and five town houses built on the site in 1995.

We are currently looking to improve access and are hoping to install five Victorian street lights and another hand rail in the churchyard.

During the Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001 the church bell was rung at 11am each Monday morning when the Auction Mart should have been starting its days business, signifying our support for the farming community and a peal of bells rang out when the first market was held again in 2002. Recently it was our privilege to hold the funeral service of Ben Atkinson, notable auctioneer at the cattle market. The church building was not big enough for all to get inside and many hundreds stood in the pouring rain for the duration of service as it was broadcast through loudspeakers.

A brass plate in church lists our vicars from 1267, starting with Galfridus de Bridlington and finishing with that of Reverend Graham Buttanshaw, our current vicar who came to Otley from working in Sudan and Uganda. He is assisted by Reverend John Parkin and two Readers, namely Fran Dale and Jackie Hird.

Do come and look at our history but do also come and share our worship.