‘Methley, 1599 - Robert Nelson was buried 28th November. The said Robert did break his fast that same day and was in good health and came to the Church to the burying of Maria Hagger, and did help to ring a peal of bells and within one half hour after he died in the presence of all the people in the Church, and was buried within four hours afterward.’

The best way to see the church is by making a visit where you will be able to grasp some idea of the history and how the church has been cared for over the centuries.  The best time is at 10.00am on Sunday mornings where you will see the living church at work and made most welcome.  The repair costs of this building are disproportionately large compared to the congregation in spite of the contribution of trust funds.  Should you care to make a donation please contact the Rector.

Oft I have stood as you stand now
To view the graves as you view mine
Think thou must soon be laid as low
And others stand to gaze at thine.

John Pulleine 28th November, 1811

The spire at St Oswalds was added at the end of the 18th century. It was in need of repair in 1784 after damage by lightening, later re-built in1901 but this was removed in 1937 after being declared unsafe.

Wills of the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th centuries from parish records have been printed in publications of the Surtees, Thoresby and Yorkshire Archaealogical Societys where they reveal a more compleat light on the life of the parish.

The Parsonage  A license to re-build the parsonage house in 1690 states that ‘the decays were through the neglect and the long non-residence of the incumbent’ (Tobias Conyers 1676 - 1687).   It adds that ‘the old house is very incomodiously built and situated’.  There is no account of where the building was.
The parsonage house was built in 1690 by the Revd. Gilbert Atkinson, Rector, who also renovated the barns and enclosed the gardens.   So there it was - 2 kitchens, 2 attic rooms and 3 cellars, sufficient for a lordly rector and his household.      Not so, in 1841 when the Rev Y.P. Savile became rector, he chose to reside at ‘The Cedars’ adjacent to St Oswalds and he instituted proceedings to construct a new rectory house built of stone by the famous Salvin, erected near to the church and school house.  

Archbishops Visitation Records   - The Visitations (accountability meetings) were occasionally held at Nostell Priory and the records reveal :- presentations (fines) for moral misdemeanours, non payment of assessments, failing to take communion and, or, failing to attend church. e.g.
1586 John Marshall    - Doth fetch corn on the sabbath - warned
1590 Thos Leake       - Sawing on the sabbath at the time of the service. Others for absence
                                       from the service and drinking on the same day.
1600 Timothy Bright (Rector)  - Not having prepared for the Visitation and not exhibiting his
                                   - letter of orders.
1615 Timothy Bright   - and his farmer for allowing unquenched lime in the parsonage fold to
                                       damage the buildings.
1623 John Burton      -  for harbouring people to drink in his house at the time of divine
                                       service.
1623 William Burton (Parish Clerk)  - for extortion and suspicion of sorcery, selling charms
                                       for beasts.
1633 Elizabeth Shan   - for recuscancy.
1633 John Firth         -  Drinking in the alehouse on Sunday.
1636 Gregory Weatherall (Curate and Schoolmaster) -  Not exhibiting orders.
1674 Tobias Conyers (Rector) and Joshua Brooke (Clerk Curate) -  Orders not shown.
1716 George Goodwin (Clerk Rector) Thomas Cowell (Clerk) Not exhibiting orders.

Of five Deanery’s of the Archdeacon of York, the Deanery of Pontefract included the following churches -  Methley, Castleford, Ferry Fryston and Rothwell -  mentioned in Pope Nicholas’ Taxation of 1291.

St Margarets