Perhaps the best restoration of all times was the one which took place in 1875, and in order to complete it with little or no interruption of working, the church was closed for one year and the school on South Hiendley common became the place of worship. The incumbent was Rev William Knight who became leader of the committee appointed to supervise the restoration, which consisted of twelve parishioners. The architects were F and W Healy of Bradford and it is to them that a debt of gratitude id due for the manner in which the building was restored as near as possible to its original form.

     The main walls were found to be safe and in a good state of repair but the roof however was in a very unsatisfactory condition and was renewed. The galleries were removed and holes in the walls and pillars, where joists had been fitted, were filled in with suitable stonework, the ugly brick wall forming a vestry where the Lady Chapel now stands was disposed of. The chancel furnishings for the choir were made of oak as the pulpit and that beautifully carved Lectern all of which exude the fine workmanship of the artisans. The stone which once stood in the centre of the chancel was removed in favour of a coke fired boiler, which stood under the nave and provided central heating for a much larger area. A corona was made by a London company and suspended from the chancel ceiling to provide either oil or candle light. It would not be right if I didn’t mention the beautiful organ purchased and placed in its present position and in excellent condition today (see photograph below left) Neither must I forget to mention the 900 years old font   (see photographs below middle and right) which was nearly lost forever during the restoration. It would appear that this unpretentious font was considered to be of no further use and that something a little more in keeping with the furnishings should replace it. So it was decided to sell or give it away to a local farmer as a water trough and to build the pedestal into the church boundary Wall and replace it with another more attractive one. This was done I suppose in good faith and this ancient piece of carving was lost for sixty years until by a strange coincidence both pieces were found during repairs to the tower in 1932. But that is another story.

     What about the cost of this work/? This was, so I understand, estimated to be £1,600 and £500 was borrowed from the bank and guaranteed by the Rev Hoyland, Rev Knight, Richard Day and Thomas Dymond. Apparently there used to be a letter stating that their balance was paid in full by subscriptions from the public and the church was reopened in October 1876.

     The north eastern gargoyle was replaced after being carved by Arthur Price the gentleman who rediscovered the ancient font. Arthur also was the man who rediscovered the great west door, which had been sealed up in protest by the monks of Nostell Priory following a dispute with archbishop Walter deGrey about 1251AD.

     I would like to think that gas lighting was installed very early last century but I cannot say with any certainty that it was. Never the less I have a photograph of the interior showing what are suspiciously like gas lamps suspended from the roof. Electricity was brought to the building in 1955 the cost being borne generously by Mr Herbert Oldfield’s family as a tribute to him following his death. Mr K Watts purchased a new central heating boiler in 1983 in memory of his wife Ethel Elizabeth. Perhaps without the generosity of these people and many, many more patrons of this church, there would not be such a beautiful old building to write about.