In the middle of the 15th century, Sir Robert Waterton of Walton Hall, founded the chantry chapel in St. Helen's Church, Sandal Magna. Walton is still in the Church of England parish of Sandal Magna, although a separate civil parish.

The chapel occupied the entire length of the south side of the chancel, today the chapel is smaller. Towards the end of the 19th century, Charles Waterton's son, Edmund, was given permission for part of the chapel to be used as accommodation for parishioners.(1)

Before the Reformation, the Watertons were members of the congregation at Sandal Magna. After the creation of the Protestant church, the Watertons remained Roman Catholics - and they continued to adhere to the faith over the centuries. This brought them into conflict with the State and caused the family hardship.

This extract from the Churchwardens' Presentment to Archbishop of York, dated 15/11/1731, highlights some of the problems that the established church had with the dissenters:

We present the roof, windows and walls of the chancell of the said church belonging to Charles Waterton Gent. [Grandfather of the Squire] The South side of the roof especially being so much in decay that the wind, rain and snow beats into the church, to the apparent hazzard of the parishioners' health....[it continues to elaborate on the problem]. The said Charles Waterton several times had notice from the Churchwardens to put the said roof, windows and walls into sufficient repair but refused to do the same. ..... We present ... Thomas Waterton Gent. [the Squire's father] for absenting themselves (there were other miscreants from Walton) wholly from church and not resorting to any place of religious worship allowed by law.

The Minister and Churchwardens were keen to get the matter of the Waterton Chancell resolved without delay: "the Winter season being so far advanced that unless it be done speedily it will be very inconvenient to the parishioners".(1)

St. Helen's, Sandal Magna, 25 Jun 2002. Photograph John S. Sargent.

1. Sandal Magna, a Yorkshire Parish and its People, Mary Ingham and Brenda Andrassy, 1978.

A list of reference sources is contained on the Links page (opens in new window).

There are quite a few Robert Watertons about. The Robert who founded the chantry chapel in Sandal Magna is not to be confused with the Constable of Pontefract Castle, a member of the Methley branch of the family. (more ..)

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"We present Thomas Waterton Gent. [and others], all of Walton for absenting themselves wholly from church and not resorting to any place of religious worship allowed by law." Churchwardens' Presentments to the Archbishop 15/11/1731
Thomas Waterton was the father of the Squire.(1)

More pictures of St. Helen's

The Faithful Servant