All Saints, Roberttown

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The land for this church was donated by Sir Joseph Radcliffe who, at the time, was the owner of a large amount of land and property in the area. At the same time, he had also donated land for the building of a National School and Parsonage house. It was estimated that the total cost of the building of the church would be around £1,650, of which, only £400 had been raised by public subscription.

The foundation stone was laid on Easter Monday 8th April 1844. A large procession formed at Millbridge, headed by the Rev. Heald, vicar of Birstall. En route to the site, the procession was joined by hundreds of local school children and many others wanting to witness the occasion.

Henry Roberson of Healds Hall, nephew of Hammond Roberson who had earlier provided Christ Church at Liversedge, was given the honour of laying the foundation stone. A brass plate was inscribed with the following and set into the stone:
“This foundation stone of All Saints' Church, Robert-town, was laid by Mr. Henry Roberson, of Heald's Hall, on Easter Monday, 1844, on a site given by Sir Joseph Radcliffe, Baronet. The Rev. William Margetson Heald being Vicar of Birstal; the Rev. Thomas Atkinson Incumbent of Liversedge; Messrs. Chantrell and Shaw, of Leeds, Architects.”

On the 13th November 1845 the church was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Ripon. A large number of other clergymen was also present. Plans for the work were furnished by the architects Messrs. Chantrell and Shaw of Leeds, however following the dissolution of partnership, the execution of the work was carried out by Mr. Shaw. The style of the church is Early English, with a Nave 69ft by 31ft 6in; a Chancel 22ft 6in by 15ft; with a small west Gallery and will hold 500 people. The sets are all open and 200 of the sittings are appropriated, the rest free. The entrance is by a south porch. It is hoped that at some future time a tower may be added, at present there is just a small west turret with two small bells. The Communion Table was presented by E.B. Wheatley, Esq.; the Font by the Rev. H.J. Bailey, vicar of North Leverton, Nottinghamshire; the Communion Plate by the present Mrs. Roberson of Healds Hall and the Lectern by Miss Eylington, her niece. There is an acre of walled and for the burial ground.

Aug 1879 - A handsome stained glass three-light lancet window, the work of Messrs. Clayton & Bell, Regent Street, London, was unveiled in the chancel in memory of the Rev. J H Walton. The subject of the window is the Crucifixion. The centre shows the figure of our Lord on the cross, to the right is that of Mary Magdalene and to the left St. John the Evangelist. An inscription along the bottom reads: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Below this it reads: "To the glory of God and in memory of the Rev. J.H. Walton, first incumbent of this church, A.D. 1845 to 1876. This window was erected by some of his friends."

Vicar - 1845-1876 - James Hatton WALTON was the first vicar at All Saints. He was born abt 1821 at Evesham in Worcestershire. Remained a bachelor and died 17 Dec 1876 while still in office.

Vicar - to 1955 - Sydney Coatham: Born near Doncaster and trained at the College of the Resurrection at Mirfield. Was ordained in 1943 and previously served at Fleetwood and Downham, Kent. Moved to Yorkshire where he first became vicar of Roberttown until 1955 when he took over St. John's, Cleckheaton.