The most famous stained glass windows in St John's Church are the Marsden Memorial Windows which pay tribute to the achievement of Samuel Marsden who was a highly influential figure in the woollen industry in West Yorkshire and brought the first merino wool back from Australia.
Samuel Marsden, a vicar born in Farsley, left England to go to Australia taking with him a few merino sheep. He developed the flock in Australia and later returned to England to demonstrate how strong and superior the wool was from this sheep. He became responsible, among others, for the burgeoning of the West Yorkshire woollen industry which flourished in our area thanks to Samuel Marsden’s role as a shepherd. Merino wool became renowned and used in the prolific woollen industry of West Yorkshire.
Three of the windows are behind the altar, one of which depicts Jesus dressed as a shepherd. Other windows are dedicated to the four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The windows underwent significant conservation work in 2015 thanks to a grant of £56,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, not only making sure the windows remain watertight but also that the coloured glass remains bright and clear to see.
The photographs from the time of the work show that the distinctive painting behind the main altar had to be removed to allow access to the windows. It is rare to see the windows without the painting in front of them.
Explaining the importance of the HLF support, Fiona Spiers, Head of HLF Yorkshire and Humber, said; “There is a place of worship in almost every ward, village and town across the Yorkshire and Humber region, providing a very powerful visual connection with our past. This award to St John’s, Farsley will help secure the immediate future of the church enabling its continued use within the community and allow people to learn more about the stories and heritage of the building.”