1090 - The Saxon Church at Wheldale

A Saxon church mentioned in the Doomsday Record was at Queldale (Wheldale), circumstances lead us to believe it was on or near to the site of Wheldale Farm. A Deed of Endowment by Sir Henry Vavasour to the Vicar's Choral of York in 1332 refers to it as a Chapel of Ease where an Anchorite lived.

Note: An Anchorite was a hermit belonging to an order of the Roman Catholic Church. His duty was to make prayer, to intercede.

1160 - All Saints - Castleford Parish Church

The first mention of Castleford Church is in a Charter of Henry de Lacy in the reign of Henry II and he is said to have had it built at the same time as granting a Charter to hold an annual fair at Pontefract. 200 years later it was restored by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. A further restoration took place between 1866 and 1868, the cost being met by public subscription and what was to be the last Church Rate levied on the district. Thomas Davidson Bland was the principle subscriber whilst the chancel restoration was paid for by his son-in-law and rector Reverend Theophilus Barnes. On the 3rd. of June 1855, Reverend W.T.M. Sylvester was inducted as Rector of Castleford where he remained until his death on the 9th of January, 1888. He played an active part of the life of Castleford during this time, being Chairman of the Burial Board and Glasshoughton School Board amongst others. A foundation stone of the new church was laid on the 3rd of September 1866 and the rebuilding costs were £4500. After Reverend Sylvester died a memorial fund was started and the proceeds were used for new bells. The surviving Parish Registers date from 1653.

1858 - Carlton Street Wesleyan Chapel

The foundation stone for this church was laid in 1858. It was a replacement for a chapel in Wesley Street which had opened in 1814 and was later converted into a day school. On December the 11th 1858 the Pontefract Advertiser reported that the newly laid foundation stone had been dug up and that coins buried beneath it had been stolen. Despite this it opened in 1861 and had cost £3000 to build. The first recorded marriage being Job and Elizabeth Hardcastle. A new vestry and memorial organ were added in 1924. Along with Bradley Street and Powell Street chapels, it was amalgamated into the Trinity Methodist church in 1964. The building was sold for demolition in 1959 and is now the site of the G.T. Smith's supermarket and the adjoining row of shops.

1863 - Carlton Street Congregational Church

Opened in 1863 the church was enlarged to hold 750 worshippers in 1876 and an organ, built by Conacher of Huddersfield was added at the same time. Several years later a day school, which was a smaller scale version of the Salt schools at Saltaire was erected at a cost of £1000. Titus Salt himself having attended this church during the time he lived at Methley Hall. The PSA (Pleasant Sunday Afternoon) was in its infancy when the Castleford Brotherhood opened here in 1893. Locally the PSA ran a social centre and helped the disadvantaged, being especially sympathetic to striking miners in the early 1900's. Nationally the Brotherhood sent food and money to help other Brotherhood groups especially those in France during World War One. In 1933 two shops were built in front of the church and the main window, which had originally been a circular rose coloured one, was changed to the present larger arched one which had been original envisioned. It was renamed as the United Reform Church in October 1972.

1865 - St. Philips Church, Whitwood

This church and burial ground was consecrated in 1865 and demolished in May 1975.

1866 - Bradley Street Chapel

The chapel was erected in 1866 at a cost of £1390 and had a new organ installed in 1881. It was rebuilt in 1907 after it had been gutted by fire. From 1957 the congregations of Carlton Street and Powell Street chapels also worshipped here until they all transferred to the Trinity Methodist church in 1964.

1884 - Duke Street Wesleyan Chapel

Built in 1884 the chapel suffered a major blow in 1906 when bazaar materials caught fire causing a great amount of damage. It finally closed in 1966 with the run of the Duke Street area.

1896 - St. Peter's Church, Fryston

Built in 1896 to serve the newly developed village it was demolished in 1991 following the closure of the colliery. The cemetery and war memorial are all that remain. During its time an organ was purchased for £35 from the closed chapel at Methley Watergate. Marshall Ward transported and renewed the organ at a cost of £248.

1899 - Whitwood Mere Memorial Church

Opened on the 26th July 1899 the church closed at the end of February 1963 due to a declining congregation. It was later used as a car salesroom.

1900 - St. Pauls Church, Glasshoughton

The memorial stone was laid in October 1900 and the church was consecrated in 1902. The stone laying for the Sunday school in Churchfield Lane took place in 1912.

1905 - Church of St. John the Baptist, Lock Lane

Opened on the 17th October 1905 it started life as a mission church to Kippax and Allerton Bywater but came under the auspices of Castleford parish church in the 1920's. It was partly closed in the 1970's when an interior wall was built and part of it sold to be used as Hartley's furnature warehouse.

1913 - Temple Street Chapel

Consecrated in 1913 it closed in 1979 when the surrounding houses were demolished. The Castleford division of the St. Johns Ambulance Brigade then used it as their headquarters.

1914 - St. Mary's Church, Wheldon Road

Dedicated in December 1914 the church was situated opposite the Castleford rugby ground. In 1930 the church aquired a wooden premises formally used at Ashton Road school which was transferred to the site of the old St. Mary's church. The original church was taken from Wheldon Road and erected on Burkhill, Airedale where it was used until the Holy Cross church was built in 1934. The building was then used as a Catholic church until St. Edmunds was erected, and then as a social hall until St. Edmunds new hall was built.

1926 - Primitive Wesleyan Church, Wheldon Lane

Opened in 1926 this church closed in 1936. It was claimed the the closure was brought about due to damage it received from the Hickson and Welch explosion of 1930.

1934 - Holy Cross Church, Airedale

In 1934 Fryston Hall was demolished and the pillars and stonework were used to build this church. The vicar at that time was John Daly who was later become a Bishop.

1964 - Trinity Methodist Church

In 1964 the congregations of Carlton Street, Powell Street and Bradley Street chapels amalgamated into the new Trinity Methodist Church.

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