Find a church

Please visit the historic church of St John the Baptist, located in the Pennine market town of Penistone, situated along the Trans Pennine trail its accessibility attracts a wealth of walkers and riders alike each year.

Before it became surrounded by a sea of modern housing and other developments, the impact of West Walton's huge detached tower in this flat landscape must have been genuinely awe inspiring.

The church of St Botolph is of considerable interest since it has indications of building in four different architectural styles over a period of some 900 years.

The name Elsecar is thought to mean ‘Elsi’s marsh’. Elsi was a Saxon lord who owned land here and ‘car’ is an old word for low, swampy ground.

The first church was built by the Normans shortly after 1100 AD. In spite of the need to extend, repair and replace over the centuries, parts of the original Norman church can still be seen today.

The site and dedication are Norman.

The church was built in 1843 by Sydney Smirke and enlarged 1860.

Our church is an attractive modern building offering facilities which are much used and appreciated by the local community, it houses the Christ Church Embroidery of interest to visitors.