Church Of St Thomas Becket

The Church of St Thomas Becket is a church largely dating from the early 14th century, with significant alterations and additions made in 1733 by G Platt of Rotherham, further changes in 1890-3 by Darbyshire and Smith, and a restoration with a large extension added in the mid-1970s. The building is constructed of gritstone, with some rubble and ashlar sections, and has lead roofs. It comprises a west tower, a nave with aisles, and a chancel.

The exterior features a three-stage, parapeted tower with pyramidal finials. A blocked, pilastered classical doorcase with a triglyph and metope frieze is located on the south side, with a stringcourse above each stage. A bull's eye window with four projecting keystones is set into the second stage of the tower’s south side. The third stage has twin semi-circular headed bell openings on all sides and a prominent cornice above. A 19th-century window is present on the west side. A 1975 stone extension now partially obscures the north-west corner of the church. The north side and chancel have been restored. Most of the windows are 19th century, with the exception of two flat-headed tripartite windows in the chancel. A 19th-century vestry is attached to the north of the chancel, and an organ bay has been inserted to the south. The south nave aisle and porch have been refashioned to resemble the tower. Three semi-circular headed windows with keystones, and pilasters between, are present on the south side, with rustication to the central arch and a prominent cornice with a parapet above. The south porch has banded corner pilasters and a central doorcase with a projecting keystone and imposts. A traceried fanlight sits above an eight-panelled, raised and fielded door, with a matching inner door.

Internally, the early 14th-century four-bay nave has octagonal piers with moulded capitals and two stepped, chamfered arches, as does the chancel arch. A round-headed tower arch dates from 1733. The nave contains 18th-century box pews, while the roof includes 19th-century trusses with cusped tracery. A 15th-century font has an 18th-century cone cover. An 18th-century hatchment is positioned above the south door. Original 17th-century balustraded altar rails are now located at the entrance to the tower. Various wall memorials are present, including a joint memorial to the Bagshaw family with a classical aedicule and painted coat of arms from 1751 in the south aisle, and two further Bagshaw memorials from 1804 and 1828 in the north aisle, both featuring classical decoration and surmounted by flat obelisks.