St Thomas the Apostle

The original church at Heptonstall was dedicated to St Thomas a Becket and was built between 1256 and 1260. Following a storm in 1847 the west face of the tower fell away. Some measure of repair took place and the church was used up to 1854 when the present church was completed at a cost of just under £7,000. The new church was consecrated on 26th October 1854 by Bishop Longley of Ripon, and dedicated to St Thomas the Apostle. 

Features include: the tower clock brought from the old church, stained glass windows that include some very fine work from the late 19th and early 20th century, a reordering of the interior  completed in 1964 which is a modern adaptation of a traditional medieval design, some interesting stonework on the new church, a painting of the Last Supper, and  a fine peal of bells (recast in 1911) that  are rung on most Sundays and are often rung by visiting bands of bellringers.

The churchyards are of particular interest as the American poet Sylvia Plath is buried there, nearby is the grave of Asa Benveniste. In the old graveyard, near the ruins of the old church, is David Hartley, King of the Craggvale Coiners. The new churchyard was recently used in the filming of the BBC series Happy Valley, and the old graveyard in the BBC series The Gallows Pole (summer 2023).

The Heptonstall Museum, on the same parcel of land gives further interpretation and exhibitions of local interest.