St John the Divine
Rastrick, Yorkshire
The church of St John the Divine was planted as a daughter church of St Matthew, Rastrick around 90 years ago.
Some 30 of these churches were built in the West Riding of Yorkshire. St Martin’s was built with a £3,600 grant which covered the entire cost of £3,514. The church was consecrated in 1831 by the Archbishop of York.
In 1870 St James Chapel was built as a chapel of ease to the parish church; this was a rare instance of a second consecrated church within the boundary of the same parish. In the late 1890s significant reordering of St Martin’s involved removal of the old pews, relaying the whole floor and reducing the side galleries. The chancel was built in 1904 and the church was closed for three months whilst the north and south galleries were removed and the organ transferred from the west end to the chancel.
In 2002 work began on the most recent reordering of St. Martin’s involving replacing pews with flexible seating, realigning floor levels, repairing plasterwork, installing enhanced lighting and a new heating system and redecorating. A Community Area was created incorporating reception, kitchen, office and toilets.