Halifax Minster — The Parish Church

Halifax Minster — originally the Parish Church of St John the Baptist — has stood at the heart of Halifax for over 900 years. The first church was built around 1100, making it the first stone building in the entire parish. Rebuilt between 1399 and 1438, with its magnificent tower begun in 1449, the Minster remains one of the finest churches in the West Riding.

Halifax-Parish-Church official website

Other relevant pages

Wikipedia page

Midgley-Webpage

The exact year of the erection of the first church is unknown, but it was about the year 1100. The church was rebuilt in the years from 1399 to 1438 and was extensively restored in 1879. It was the first stone building in the parish. Indeed, for a century or so after the completion, there was no other stone building.

The tower, commenced in 1449, took nearly 40 years to build, and it was said that for simple dignity, it was unrivalled in the whole of the West Riding.

Thought to be the third church on this site. The earliest evidence is from the Norman period and there are carved chevron stones from the 12th Century.