History

A Church in Rastrick for 650 years

1363
John de Bretton was the first Curate to be appointed to the first Chapel in Rastrick. The chapel had two small rooms about eight feet high with a few wooden benches.

1547 to 1553
In the reign of King Edward VI, as a free chapel, the chapel in Rastrick was suppressed.

1547
In a state of decay, the chapel was closed.

1578
The building was sold to Robert Ramsden as a barn.

1602
The inhabitants of Rastrick have a common day's work to pull down the old chapel and start to build a new one.

1621
A school was held from the church. This subsequently became Rastrick Grammar School.

1689
The Coat of Arms of William III was hung in the chapel.

1798
The present Church replaced the chapel.

1807
The clock was installed.

1853
A Methodist Chapel was established in Rastrick.

1864
The growing congregation led to Crowtrees Methodist Church being built.

1867
First Stained glass window was inserted in St Matthew's Church.

1875
The church was refurnished, the low-backed pews replacing the box-pews.

1879
The church organ was rebuilt.

1928
Electric lighting was installed in the church.

1949
The sanctuary was reordered.

1953
A new clock was installed to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

1962
Black beetles destroyed the roof timbers.

1968
A new roof was put on.

1969
Crowtrees Methodists were invited to hold services in this church after their church was closed due to dry rot.

1971
A new jointly-funded Parish Centre was built.

1990
Anglicans and Methodists started shared services.

2000
Re-ordering of the church interior.

2005
A formal LEP was signed.

A full History of the Anglican and Methodist Church of St. Matthew's, Rastrick can be found  here