Early Parish Life in Halifax

Let us journey back to the 12th century when our beloved Halifax was taking its first steps. The year 1091 marks our first written mention as 'Feslei,' but by 1100, we became known as 'Halyfax.' This name, derived from the Old English 'halig' (holy) and 'feax' (face or hair), connects us to the venerated relic of St. John the Baptist - a story that drew pilgrims from across the land.

The Parish Church, consecrated in 1146, became not just our spiritual center but the very heart of community life. The present mid-15th century building stands on the site of an earlier Norman church built around 1120 by the monks of Cluny from the Priory of St Pancras at Lewes and granted between 1086 and 1095. It is one of the largest and most impressive late mediæval churches in West Yorkshire. It was consecrated around 1140.

There were still only 13 houses in Halifax even as late as 1453. There were some smaller and several larger settlements in surrounding areas like Heptonstall, Ovenden, Warley, Hipperholme, Rastrick and Elland.

Halifax became the central point of the area not just because of the church but probably due to it being on the Magna Via too - an ancient route from Wakefield to Halifax between Hipperholme and Halifax.