Please also refer to the website
"A Church Near You"
for information on Church Services at
St Luke's Church, Grimethorpe

and
St Paul's Church, Brierley

(Click on the appropriate website links above)

A church built by the miners'
for the miners.

When Grimethorpe Colliery opened in 1895 it had a dramatic effect on the population of Grimethorpe and Brierley.  It grew from 484 in 1881 to 1,684 in 1901.  Hundreds of new homes were built to house the workers and, although St.Paul's Church in Brierleyt was built in 1869, as a daughter church to Felkirk St.Peter, it was deemed insufficient for the expanding population.

Grimethorpe became an ecclesiastical parish 1901 and the first vicar, Revd.W.A.Holiday, set about raising funds to build a new church.  Major donations were received from F.J.Savile-Foljambe (who also donated the land for the church and vicarage) and Carlton Main Colliery.  The church was completed in 1904.

The architect was Mr C.Hodgson-Fowler of Durham and the contractors were Messrs.Bowman & Sons of Stamford.  The style is Early English and the church is built of brick and stone.  The lofty stone arcades lent dignity and grandeur to the whole interior and gave it a cathedral-like stateliness.  It was often referred to locally as 'the red brick cathedral'.  Seating was provided for 500 people andthe provision was left (if required) for an extension which would have consisted of an additional side chapel and south aisle.

The church was consecrated by the Archbishop of York on 10th March 1904.  Although the fabric of the church has altered little over the years, there have been small internal re-ordering schemes to improve facilities.

Following the pit closure in the 1980's, the village suffered from massive degeneration and the church faced the possibility of closure.  However, the arrival of the current vicar in 2002 has seen the church follow a vision of regeneration and growth.

Click to view Plan and Points of Interest