Whiston Parish Church

The most of Whiston lies in a hollow, but the churches were often sited on a commanding eminence. Whiston Parish Church is one example. It was reached by a fine oak War Memorial Lychgate.

Most of the old work is 15th century,although the tower has a Norman base with a 13th century lancet, and a low pointed arch breaking into a Norman window.

The bells are said to be 15th century and an inlaid chest was 18th.

The monks of the Norman Abbey of St. Wandrille, in 1188, claimed that Whiston was one of their chapelries

The registers date from 1594.

Whiston Parish Church is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was usually described as 'the Parish Church of St James' . Canon Raine, an eminent church historion of the 19th cent., stated that 'St James' was a modern ascription and that the original dedication was St Mary Magdalene. The 'St James' ascription was most likely adopted under Puritan influence'

The parish, now greatly reduced in area compared with earlier centuries, was formerly in the old Deanery of Doncaster which formed a part of the Archdeaconry of York within the Diocese of York. In 1884 the parishes of the old Deanery of Doncaster became part of the newly formed Archdeaconry of Sheffield, still within the Diocese of York.

Whiston`s immediate administrative ties with York were finally severed in 1913 when the Diocese of Sheffield was created.

Rectors of Whiston

• 1237 - Robertus de Doncaster
• 1269 - Peter de Newark
• 1286 - John de Cressel
• 1293 - John de Ripon
• 1316 - John de Bellhouse
• 1318 - William de Beausey
• 1349 - John de Ekynton cap
•               John Jurdan, pbr
• 1370 - John Dayvil, pbr
• 1379 - Richard Barton, pbr
• 1383 - John Wokeedhode
• 1393 - Robert de Burton
•             Robert de Rossedale
• 1400 - Robert de Kagenhall, L.B
• 1430 - Roger Henmer, pbr
• 1438 - William Maltester, cl
• 1449 - Thomas Moore
• 1457 - Henry Stafford
• 1487 - Peter Mundevil
• 1489 - Thomas Warde
• 1528 - William Holme, A.M.
• 1540 - Thomas Portington
• 1550 - Anthony Blake, S.T.B.
• 1554 - John Atkin, also Vicar of Sheffield.Buried at Sheffield Nov.1568
• 1570 - Richard Bright
• 1578 - Robert Holland, also Vicar of Sheffield where he resided. He died August 1597 and was buried in Sheffield
• 1597 - Osmond Bourne, S.T.B.
•             Thomas Rawson
•             Thelwell
•             Thomas Rawson, died 1861
• 1681 - William Wagstaff
•             Obadiah Browne. died 1738
•             William Steer jnr
• 1739 - John Griffith DD. died
•             Middlemore Griffith. died
•             John Carver died 1807
• 1807 - Richard Lacy
• 1837 - Walter A Shirley
• Rev. John Cordeaux (d.1887), MA. At Whiston 2 years resigned in favour of Rev Howard.
• 1849 - W. Howard, M.A.
• 1891 - Thomas Atkinson
• 1901 - Herbert A. Holme, M.A.
• 1909 - Augustus George Allton

Thomas Rawson, MA, who was born in Sheffield on 28th April, 1611, was vicar of Ledsham and Rector of Whiston in 1670, he had lands at Brightside by his father's will. Thomas Rawson was the Duke of Norfolks agent responsible for collecting rents for the Manor of Handsworth and Highfield. He was the son of John Rawson, of Upperthorpe and Dodworth, bp. 13 Dec 1577 at Sheffield, yeoman; and Elizabeth Burrows, daughter of Richard Burrows of Guilthwaite. He was buried in December 1681 at Whiston.

The Derbyshire archives hold a certificate by Obadiah Browne, rector of Whiston in the deanery of Doncaster, that Edward Revell BA late of St Mary Magdalen Hall, Oxford, has served him as curate for one year. Dated 14th September, 1699. Reference: D37 M/RF36

A document in the archives states that In 1739, Thomas, Earl of Malton, declares that he acted as trustee for the Rev. John Griffiths of Eckington in accepting a lease for sixty years from Edward, Duke of Norfolk, of the Advowson of Treeton.

Rev. Walter Augustus Shirley was Rector from 1837 to 1839. Considerable alterations were made to the church while Shirley was rector at a cost of £450. These changes did not meet with approval, being described as bad and unimproved , by Sir Stephen Glynne (1807-1874), ninth baronet.

The Hon. and Rev. W. Howard, M.A was Rector in 1849, and by 1879 he had been appointed Canon of York. Read more about Rev Howard

In 1883, the church was partly rebuilt under the direction of Mr. J. Oldrid Scott , architect son of Sir George Gilbert Scott, at a cost of about £8000 towards which the late Lady Charlotte Howard made a donation of £5000, in memory of her brother, the Rev. the Hon, William Howard, M.A.,the former rector.

There are several stained windows, including one inserted in 1890 to Henry 2nd Earl of Effingham and another placed in 1891 to the Deakin family.

A ceremony took place on 14th August, 1920 to commemmorate those who had lost their lives in World War 1. The Bishop of Sheffield unveiled a plate glass plaque with inscription in gold-leaf lettering on a black background. The inscription reads ' In Chief Dexter and sinister St. Mary Magdalene Whiston To The Glory of God and In Memory of 30 men of this Parish who fell in the Great War 1914 - 1918'.

On 30th September, 1919, a Ceremony took place in the presence of the Earl of Effingham and the Bishop of Sheffield.

A Memorial with a stone base surmounted by the Lychgate with two bronze plaques, designed by the architect James Totty and built by J. Wortley at a cost of £430.

Living at The Rectory in 1891 was the Rector Of Whiston, Thomas Atkinson who died in 1896 while still in office. He was succeeded, in July, 1896, by Rev. Herbert Alfred Holme, M.A. of St. Johns College, Cambridge, on the presentation of the Earl of Effingham, accepted the Rectory of Whiston. He had been Vicar of Sutton near Hull. His wife Emma was daughter of Rev. C. J. Fynes-Clinton, Rector of Cromwell, Derbyshire. Rev Holme died on 1st September, 1920 at Warrior Square, St. Leonards on Sea, aged 60. His wife died aged 86 years in March, 1926.

In 1909 Rector was Rev. Augustus George Allton of St. Aidans.

Among the beneficiarys of the estate of Mr. Alfred Allenby of Rotherham, who died in July, 1931, were the Rector and Church Wardens of Whiston Parish Church to whom left £100.

On June 30th, 1978, Rev. G. Morgan, Rector of Whiston resigned and the Rev G.C.Mills, Vicar of St. Augustine's, Sheffield, was appointed Rector of St.Mary Magdalene, Whiston.

The Patron is now the Bishop of Sheffield.

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