At the time our Chapel was built Shelley was part of the Parish of Kirkburton, and had no Church of its own.
Kirkburton, like so many places in the 18th Century, suffered from the practise of multiple livings (one priest having charge of several parishes often widely separated).
One vicar Robert D’Oyley, became vicar of Kirkburton in 1727 and retained the living until his death in 1766. In that time he paid only three visits to his Yorkshire Parish. He was also vicar of Windsor (Berks) and preferred to stay there.
Kirkburton and its huge parish (including Shelley, Shepley, Cumberworth, Thurstonland, Holmfirth, Holme, Hepworth, Scholes and Upperthong) was therefore left to his curate, and the vicar’s neglect led to numerous complaints from his parishioners.
The Early Church
Shelley Methodist Church
