St Stephen's
East Hardwick West Yorkshire
WF8 3DW
Who we are
St Stephen's Church is located in the small village of East Hardwick a few miles south of Pontefract in West Yorkshire.
Church is now open for Sunday Eucharist at 9 am weekly. You must book a place if you wish to attend.
Church is now open for Sunday Eucharist at 9 am weekly. You must book a place if you wish to attend.
Location of worship
Church Pastor
The Revd Shelagh Stacey
Pastor
Church Lane
East Hardwick,
West Yorkshire
WF8 3DW
United Kingdom
Phone: 01977 702478
Click here to contact The Revd Shelagh Stacey
Church Website
St Stephen's on Social Media
Facebook Video: St Stephen's Facebook Video
Leadership
Leader Name:
The Revd Shelagh Stacey
Leader Position:
Pastor
Phone:
Leader Email:
Click here to contact The Revd Shelagh Stacey
Administration
Admin Name:
Barbara Pollard
Phone:
Parking
For normal services, there is plenty of parking available on the grassy area on the left of the drive. For larger services, such as weddings, you will be given information on where to park. Please keep the driveway clear at all times, especially close to the entrance.
St Stephen's Service Times
Sunday Services
Eucharist/Communion
Everyone is welcome to join us for our weekly Eucharist Service, held each Sunday at 9 am. The service lasts for approximately one hour.
We are emerging from Covid restrictions, making changes gradually and with a focus on the comfort of those who feel more vulnerable.
PLEASE continue to wear a mask inside church and to use the hand wash when you enter the building.
You may choose any seat that is marked with a green card. If you prefer to sit on your own, simply turn the green card over to red to indicate that the seat next to you is not available.
We are currently offering only the bread and no wine at communion. If you usually take communion at another church, you are welcome to receive at St Stephen's.
If you do not wish to take communion, please feel free to come to the altar for a blessing.
Our hymns are chosen from the Celebration Hymn Book, with occasional hymns from other sources. The accompaniment is either the organ or recorded music (usually alternating weekly)
Refreshments after the service are currently suspended.
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Online Services, live streaming on facebook
SUNDAY EUCHARIST, MORNING PRAYER AND EVENING PRAYER
Please join our praying community from the comfort of your own home. These services are available to watch for 24 hours afterwards on the Facebook page.
Sunday Eucharist from our sister church, St Michael's, at 10.30 am on Sundays.
Morning Prayer on Saturday morning at 8.30 am.
Evening Prayer Monday to Friday at 7 pm.
Click on this link: https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelschurchonline which should take you directly there.
It's been more than 2 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
Eucharist/Communion
Everyone is welcome to join us for our weekly Eucharist Service, held each Sunday at 9 am. The service lasts for approximately one hour.
We are emerging from Covid restrictions, making changes gradually and with a focus on the comfort of those who feel more vulnerable.
PLEASE continue to wear a mask inside church and to use the hand wash when you enter the building.
You may choose any seat that is marked with a green card. If you prefer to sit on your own, simply turn the green card over to red to indicate that the seat next to you is not available.
We are currently offering only the bread and no wine at communion. If you usually take communion at another church, you are welcome to receive at St Stephen's.
If you do not wish to take communion, please feel free to come to the altar for a blessing.
Our hymns are chosen from the Celebration Hymn Book, with occasional hymns from other sources. The accompaniment is either the organ or recorded music (usually alternating weekly)
Refreshments after the service are currently suspended.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Online Services, live streaming on facebook
SUNDAY EUCHARIST, MORNING PRAYER AND EVENING PRAYER
Please join our praying community from the comfort of your own home. These services are available to watch for 24 hours afterwards on the Facebook page.
Sunday Eucharist from our sister church, St Michael's, at 10.30 am on Sundays.
Morning Prayer on Saturday morning at 8.30 am.
Evening Prayer Monday to Friday at 7 pm.
Click on this link: https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelschurchonline which should take you directly there.
It's been more than 2 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
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Dress Code
In the past, people used to wear 'Sunday Best' clothes to church. Nowadays we tend to be less formal. There is no 'dress code' for church. Please wear whatever clothes you feel most comfortable wearing. You may like to take into account that the church is an old building and, although we have heaters, it can become quite cold in winter months in some parts of the church.
Special Needs/Accessibility
We have a ramp for the main entrance which allows easy access for wheelchair users. If possible, please let us know in advance if you require the ramp so that you are not kept waiting outside whilst it is put in place (especially in cold weather).
As there are steps up the the altar, disabled visitors are welcome to take communion at the bottom of the steps or in their seats. Please let any of the helpers know if you require this service.
There is a disabled toilet in the north transept.
We have a hearing induction loop. To use this, please set your hearing aid to the T position.
Assistance dogs are welcome.
As there are steps up the the altar, disabled visitors are welcome to take communion at the bottom of the steps or in their seats. Please let any of the helpers know if you require this service.
There is a disabled toilet in the north transept.
We have a hearing induction loop. To use this, please set your hearing aid to the T position.
Assistance dogs are welcome.
Other information
St Stephen's History
East Hardwick is an ancient community, appearing in a deed of around 1120 as 'Herdwica' and in 1296 as 'Herdwyk', which means herd farm.
In 1653, Stephen Cawood, a local farmer living in the village, endowed a trust for the building of a chapel and a free school in East Hardwick. Revenues from the trust were designated to maintain a schoolmaster, a preaching minister and for the relief of the poor. The chapel and school were built about 1660 and Stephen Cawood was buried in the area where the chapel was built but no further information is available. The Cawood Trust still exists and provides a small annual sum which the church uses in its work with the sick.
Cawood Free School was run by the schoolmaster, Bernard Greenwood, BA, who was also a minister of the chapel. A memorial stone showing his connection with the school and chapel can be seen in the area near the kitchen in St Stephen's church today.
In 1873, the chapel was demolished and a new church was built. The chairman of the trustees at this time was Thomas W Tew, who was a partner in Leatham Tew & Co, bankers (at what is now Barclay's Bank in Pontefract). Thomas Tew was also the founder Master of the St Oswald Lodge of Freemasons in Pontefract.
The foundation stone for the new church was laid by the Marquess of Ripon, then Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England and Grand Master of the Province of West Yorkshire, on 23rd October 1872. A meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge was held in Pontefract Town Hall, after which the gathering progressed, in full Masonic regalia, to travel to East Hardwick. The mallet used to lay the foundation stone is still in use by Pontefract Mason and the church continues its links with St Oswalk Lodge by holding an annual service in September.
A list of the trustees at the time St Stephen's was built can be seen on the brass plaque on the wall near the kitchen area. Edmund Lord and Samuel Slack were both Masters of the Lodge and Samuel Slack had been co-proprietor of the Boys' Boarding School in East Hardwick.
The church was consecrated by Dr Thomson, Archbishop of York, on 25th November 1874.
In 1653, Stephen Cawood, a local farmer living in the village, endowed a trust for the building of a chapel and a free school in East Hardwick. Revenues from the trust were designated to maintain a schoolmaster, a preaching minister and for the relief of the poor. The chapel and school were built about 1660 and Stephen Cawood was buried in the area where the chapel was built but no further information is available. The Cawood Trust still exists and provides a small annual sum which the church uses in its work with the sick.
Cawood Free School was run by the schoolmaster, Bernard Greenwood, BA, who was also a minister of the chapel. A memorial stone showing his connection with the school and chapel can be seen in the area near the kitchen in St Stephen's church today.
In 1873, the chapel was demolished and a new church was built. The chairman of the trustees at this time was Thomas W Tew, who was a partner in Leatham Tew & Co, bankers (at what is now Barclay's Bank in Pontefract). Thomas Tew was also the founder Master of the St Oswald Lodge of Freemasons in Pontefract.
A list of the trustees at the time St Stephen's was built can be seen on the brass plaque on the wall near the kitchen area. Edmund Lord and Samuel Slack were both Masters of the Lodge and Samuel Slack had been co-proprietor of the Boys' Boarding School in East Hardwick.
The church was consecrated by Dr Thomson, Archbishop of York, on 25th November 1874.
"Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure."D. L. Moody
St Stephen's listing was last updated on the 18th of February, 2022
