Founded in the 13th century and dedicated to St Thomas a Becket. Various building work over the centuries meant that it eventually could accommodate a congregation of over one thousand. Unfortunately when a storm in 1847 caused severe damage to the church it was decided to build a new one. The ruins of the old church were left as a monument . Near the porch of the old church can be found the grave of David Hartley known as the "King David of the Cragg Vale Coiners". He was hanged in York in 1770 for taking clippings from the edge of gold coins and using them to make conterfeit coins.