The history of a Parish has very well been said to "centre round the history of its ancient Parish Church." The particular account and description of the Church has only been so long postponed in this volume, in order that the description might include the latest additions to its dignity and beauty.
There was occasion in the first Chapter to speak of the existence of a Church at Cawthorne at the time of the Domesday Survey of 1086, the only one existing in what is now the Rural Deanery of Silkstone, and mention of it has frequently been made in connection with the various Charters in which it is named. Of this early Saxon Church-built of wood, probably, as most Saxon Churches were-there is no trace whatever existing at the present time beyond the remains of a Churchyard Cross discovered in the recent Restoration, and of which there is little doubt that it dates before the Norman Conquest. The shaft was found near the foundation of the late Chancel Arch, on the South side, built in as mere material the Cross which surmounted it, and may possibly have been an original Consecration Cross of the Church or Churchyard, was discovered over the middle pier of the North wall of the Nave, hidden under many coats of whitewash.
The present Church dates from the early part of the Thirteenth century, to which date may be assigned the piers and arches of the North side, though they have since been considerably altered if not altogether rebuilt, retaining their original character of structure.
The Church consists of a Tower and Nave with North and South Aisles and a Chancel with aisles, the South Aisle of the Nave having laeen lengthened and entirely rebuilt during the recent Restoration the Chancel has been considerably lengthened, and a new South Chancel Aisle been added, whilst new Roofs have been erected throughout the entire fabric.
The whole of the new work is in the style of the Fourteenth century. The Restoration and Enlargement with everything connected with the work inside the Church and out have been from the plans and designs of Messrs. Bodley (A. R. A) and Garner, of 14, South Square, Gray's Inn, and have been carried out entirely under the superintendence of Mr. George Swift, of Cawthorne, by the masons usually employed by him upon the Cannon Hall estate.
In giving a detailed description of the Church, it is thought best to describe the Interior first, beginning with the Nave and Chancel, and then going from the oldest part of the existing Church-the North Chancel Aisle, Chapel, or Chantry-round the several Aisles and the Tower, from the North East round by the West to the South East.
The word "Church," it may be remarked in passing, is derived from a Greek word Kuriake meaning the Lord's House, "Kirk" in the North being softened into "Church 'in the South: the "Nave" is so called from the Greek naus, or Latin navis, a ship, the favourite symbol of the Church in primitive times , an " Aisle " is from "ala,' the Latin for a wing, through the French aile; "Chancel," from the Latin " cancelli," the screen or latticework by which as early as the fourth century the East end of the Church was separated from the Nave or Body; "Chapel," flora the Kings of France having always cairied St Martin's cope (Latin, cappa) into the field with them when engaged in war, keeping it as a sacred relic in a tent, where mass was said, the place hence being called copella, the chapel; the word Chantry" is from the Latin canto to sing, and signifies a chapel or other part of a Church set apart for the saying or singing of masses for the soul of some one departed this life " Altar " is derived from the two Latin words alta ara, a high altar "Reredos" (pronounced reardoss) from the French arriere dos, behind back, being an adornment behind the altar.