St Mary's Church, Worsbrough

A History Contributed by William Morton

The Church stands on a small eminence in the village at the side of the main road as it has for the last 850 years or more. The foundation of St Mary’s is not known. Parts of the stonework remaining suggest a date of c1130 but other ‘evidence’ might lead to an even earlier date. It must be more than a coincidence that 200 yards or so to the north of the Church used to be an old stone cross and a small pool. 4 lanes used to meet here at this point from the surrounding areas. The field in which the cross once stood and where the pool once was, (both disappeared a few years ago but are marked on OS maps) is called ‘Helliwell Hills’ and Helliwell Ings, a generally accepted corruption of ‘Holy Well’ and we can surely be forgiven in thinking that this was the first preaching point at Worsbrough.

The name of the founder of the Church is not known with certainty but could be one of the family of Rockley who was living here at the time of the Doomsday and have upheld an interest here for a few centuries. The Nave and Chancel are of 12th century date but as these are made of a different style of masonry, it would seem that they must have been built at differing times.

Chancel
The Chancel, which appears to be the oldest part, is not an even rectangle being wider at one end than the other. The walls here are some 3 feet in thickness. On the outside, the north and east walls can be seen to be made of Norman rubble work, suitable for plastering and lime washing. In the north wall is a Norman window showing the typical wide splay on the inside. The east window shows the typical configuration of the 14th century rectilinear style. There is a Chapel endowed by Sir Robert Rockley in 1409 on the north side of the Chancel. A wall tomb in this Chapel of Sir Robert still exists and can be seen but with difficulty as the organ tends to hide it. In this Chapel, there used to be the tomb of Sir Thomas Rockley. This tomb has recently been moved into the north aisle where access is better. The inscription on it reads, in Latin, ‘Pray for the soul of Thomas Rockley, knight who died A.D MCCCCCXVII’. This was first moved, when the organ was re-placed here from the western gallery and stood in the archway between the Chancel and the Chapel. A recent internal examination has shown a few bones still inside along with plenty of rubbish indicating that it has been opened many times.

On the south side of the Chancel is another memorial to the Rockley family. This tomb is quite unique. It is a memorial to Roger Rockley, son of the above mentioned Thomas, who died in 1533. The monument is of two tiers and has two figures on it, both of which are moveable. On the top deck lies a young knight dressed in the armour of the day. On the lower deck is a skeleton lying on a shroud. The figure is thought to be Roger Rockley and like the skeleton and the rest of the monument, it is made of oak. The figure and the skeleton are covered with fine linen and painted. The paintwork is original. The figures and the monument were cleaned some years ago and are in excellent condition. The base of the monument has the arms of Roger Rockley painted on and also of Isabel MOUNTENEY, his wife. There was once a small plinth underneath which has long since rotted away and according to the historian Dodsworth who examined it in 1619 read, ‘Here lies the body of Roger ROCKLEY, Knight, son of Thomas ROCKLEY, Knight’. The ROCKLEY family used to live in nearby Rockley Old Hall, which still exists.

Vestry
A door in the south wall of the sanctuary leads down 3 steps into the vestry. This vestry was built in the 14th century and is small in size. Many meetings must have been held there for at one stage it was found necessary to buy a chamber pot. This is perhaps understandable because at every meeting held here there always seems to have been a charge for ale. During repairs to the church in 1836, a Norman capital was found in the Chancel wall, showing on one face a Centaur and on the adjacent face, a bird. This is crudely done indicating an early date and looks like the work of a local craftsman. This was taken out and placed above a small window in the vestry where it can still be seen.

In the west wall of the vestry are a further 3 steps leading up into the Lady chapel. The door here is a very old, plain oak one. The Lady Chapel is thought to have been built in the 15th century by money provided by a John Monk. In this Chapel is a memorial in memory of 2 brothers of the EDMUNDs family who lived in nearby Worsbrough Hall and died on the same day, 22nd March 1709. Also in this Chapel is the RAYNEY Charity Board. This Board pays tribute to John RAYNEY who died in 1632 and gave money to found a Lecturship at Worsbrough. This money is still being paid.

Nave
The Church was once filled with box pews which were replaced in 1836. Plans for both sets of pews still exist. The only remaining box pew is one for the ELMHIRST family which is at the west end of the north aisle and was placed there in the 1720’s. The ELMHIRST family are known to have been living in Worsbrough in the 1300’s and possibly before then. The family still live here. The arch between the Nave and the Chancel was once a round Norman one. This was replaced in the 14th century by the present pointed one. However, the Norman decorated stones were re-used and both sides of the arch are a mixed variation.

The South Porch is of 15th century date and on the central boss of the old oak vaulting are the arms of a member of the ROCKLEY family. The main doorway into the Church is through a magnificent oak door dating from about 1480. Carved in relief, across the centre are the names of 2 old Worsbrough families, thought to have been Church Wardens at that time. These were Nicholas GENNE.and Thomas ALLAT. The north aisle is 15th century in date whereas the south aisle is 14th C. Although now on the inside, it can be seen that the walls were once external ones.

Tower
At the west end of the nave is the 15th century tower and spire. This houses a clock and the bells. There was a clock here at the turn of the 18th century, when repairs were carried out. The existing clock could still be the original one in that over the centuries, although repairs have been carried out and it has been under constant maintenance, there is no reference to a new clock having been bought. There are 3 bells. The font is dated 1662. Churchyard Burials took place both inside and outside the Church. When the Churchyard was thought to be full, in 1826, an extension was made. This extension is now used to hold the renowned Worsbrough Mystery Plays. This in due time was also filled and in 1856, a new Churchyard was opened a few yards from the Church on the road to Birdwell. There are known to be several vaults underneath the Church.

Registers
The Registers began in 1559 and continue uninterrupted until the present day.

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