Crofton All Saints Church - (1 of 17)

The present church was built in 1430, although there is evidence of an earlier building. The earliest known reference to a rector of Crofton is Hugh de Castleford in the 12th century. He was involved in a dispute with the Priors of Nostell regarding who was entitled to receive the tithes from Oakenshaw Grange.

Two stone cross fragments and a medieval stone coffin have been found in the village, the earliest of which date back to the 8th or 9th century.

The site of the original church remains unknown; it may lie beneath the current building or possibly on lower ground between Shay Lane and Lodge Lane, where evidence of early settlement has been discovered.

The current church is cruciform in shape, with a central tower that houses the clock mechanism (now automated) and a peal of six bells. Unusually, the bells are rung from within the main body of the church rather than from a separate bell chamber in the tower.

When the Wilson family moved into Crofton Hall at the bottom of the hill, a private entrance was built into the north wall of the nave. This entrance is now blocked off.

The church organ was installed in 1863 as part of major renovations, which also included a new crypt for a heating system, a new roof, pews, and flooring.