Sheffield Daily News, and Morning Advertiser – Saturday 09 July 1859
Consecration of Kilnhurst Church.
On last, his Grace the Archbishop of York arrived at Kilnhurst, at ten o’clock in the morning, to consecrate the new church of St. Thomas, at that place, and which, through the liberality of the late Earl Fitzwilliam and several resident gentry, has been erected to afford spiritual means to a rapidly-increasing population.
On Tuesday, the 7th of April, last year, the foundation stone of the edifice was laid by J. Fullerton, Esq., of Thrybergh-hall, a sufficient sum being at that time promised to give every assurance that the whole amount would be subscribed by the time the consecration service took place. This hope has been verified; and with the sum of £200 contributed by Thomas Wilson, Esq., of Kilnhurst, added to that of the late noble Earl of a like amount, and others, everything gave promise of the church being erected without any debt remaining upon it.
It was estimated that the expense of the building would be about £1,100, and the cost has only exceeded it by about £20. The subscriptions amount to £1,040, so that only £6O remains to be collected, and that sum was further reduced , to £45 by the proceeds of the offertory at the consecration.
The architecture is early English. The length of the church is 65 feet 35 feet, the principal entrance being from the west end a small but neat porch, over which is a bell turret. The stone has been an item of considerable cost in the erection, and was obtained from the quarries at Hooton Roberts. The accommodation is for 376 persons, but 400 might be seated without much inconvenience. The architects were Messrs. Pritchard and Son, of York; and the contractors for the entire work and fittings were Messrs. Chadwick and Son, of Conisbro’ and Masbro’.
The service commenced at ten o’clock, at which time there was a numerous congregation assembled, amongst whom were the Rev. Sir Wm. Ross Mahon, Bart., and Lady Mahon ; the Rev. H. Partington, vicar of Wath, and Mrs. Partington; the Rev. D. Charlesworth, vicar of Darfield ; the Rev. C. Marsden, vicar of Bolton; the Rev. T. V. Hobson, curate of Mexbro’; the Rev. J. Levitt, incumbent of Swinton; the Rev. J, F. Sheppard, the present curate of Swinton and future minister at Kilnhurst; Mrs. and Miss Sheppard; the Rev. J. S. Upton, Wentworth; the Rev. R. Mosley, vicar of Rotherham ; Mrs. Fullerton and party, Thrybergh-hall; H. Otter, Esq., and Mrs. Otter, Swinton; J. Reed, Esq., Mexbro’; Henry Barker, Esq., and Miss Parker, Mexbro’; Miss Marsden and the Misses Simes, Darfield ; R. O. Blythman, Esq., Swinton ; Mr. and Mrs. Bland, Kilnhurst; Mr. Coldwell and Mr. William Kemp, church‘ wardens of Swinton; Mr. John Twigg, churchwarden of Kilnhurst; Mr. Charles Wilson; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Twigg; Mrs. William Wilson ; Mr. Plumb, &ct
On the arrival of the Archbishop, accompanied by the Rev. Vernon Musgrave, M.A., vicar of Mattersey, his chaplain, and the registrar of the diocese, the Rev. J. Levitt, the incumbent, the clergy, and several gentlemen, met his Grace at the door.
The petition for consecration having been presented, the service proceeded, in which his Grace took part. A most eloquent and impressive sermon was afterwards preached by the Rev. Vernon Musgrave, vicar of Mattersey, his chaplain and one of his Grace’s chaplains. A collection was made at the conclusion of the service, in aid of the fund for the new church and parsonage. This Church makes the sixth that has been erected within the parish of Wath, during the present century viz, Hoyland. Swinton, Thorpe, Elsecar, Brampton and , Kilnhurst.