The Church was founded in Anglo-Saxon times.

The first building however was destroyed, though individual stones from it can be found in the present base.

The earliest part of the present structure is the bottom part of the tower that dates from the Norman Period. The upper part of the tower is 15th century. During this period of restoration the roof of the nave was rebuilt.

In 1963 the organ was extensively restored and the new screen constructed and the choir vestry re furnished.

The Church had a peal of 6 bells, two of which date from pre-reformation days; the rest are 17th and 18th century. In his history of South Yorkshire, Hunter made special note of the "sweet silver tones of the bells of Darfield"

In about 1938 as a result of extensive subsidence damage the arch between the nave and the tower was strengthened and the screen inserted. Also due to the same subsidence, caused by coal extraction, the tower was declared unsafe and the bells were silenced for many years. Again in the 50's the bells were silenced for some 25 years. The National Coal Board undertook major restoration work and the bells were rung for the queens Silver Jubilee.

Mike King (Tower Captain) gathered unto himself a group of young people whom he trained to a very high standard of camponology.

They worked hard to secure 2 new bells, and with the help of a large private donation two new bells were cast. Darfield Church now has a ring of 8 bells.

Darfield Churchyard

A massive churchyard surrounds Darfield Church. Over 700 headstones have been recorded. Three memorials are worthy of special mention.

LUNDHILL OBELISK - A mining explosion took place in 1857 at Lundhill. In this explosion 189 men and boys were killed and as a consequence 90 women were widowed and 220 children were made orphans. A special disaster fund was set up to which Queen Victoria donated £200 and Prince Albert donated £100.

HOUGHTON MAIN CAGE DISASTER - On New Years Eve 1886 a cage carrying 10 men and boys crashed to the pit bottom. All 10 were killed. A full report of this appears overleaf.

EBENEZER ELLIOT - Commonly known as the "Corn Law Rhymer", born to an iron founder in Rotherham in 1781. An account of Elliott's life appears later.

HOUGHTON MAIN COLLIERY CAGE DISASTER:

Sitting in my own house I heard a rumbling noise at the pit., I ran to the pit as quick as I could. I got a lamp at the lamp cabin and went on the pit hill. I asked the Banksman what was the matter. He said, "I do not know but I think the pit has fired up as I saw the fire rise up the shaft and go up the pulleys". I asked him where the cage was, and he said, "I don't know". Phillip White said, "The pit has exploded for it has blown that bottle up the pit", pointing to a tin bottle lying on the flat sheets. I went and picked the bottle up and looked at it. Alan Beresford, the Engineman came on the pit hill and I asked him how he was. He said that something had hit him on the brow and stunned him. I asked him if he knew what was the matter, and he said the pit has fired. I asked him if he knew where the cage was and he said, "No".