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.