The first known mention of Kirkheaton Church is in 1296, in the inspeximus of possessions of Hexham Priory, when it was dependent upon Chollerton. In 1716 the church was roofless and then in 1753-5 it was rebuilt on the same foundations by Dame Dorothy Windsor, incorporating four grotesque heads, from the old chapel, at the angles of the nave, under the water table. It is possible that the lowest course of the North wall was also from the old chapel. The belcote, described by Pevsner as ‘fantastic’, was probably built then.
The Rev T. Harris, Incumbent of Kirkheaton, September 10th 1865 to 17th Sunday after Trinity 1866, ‘gothicized’ the Church and most of the inside dates from this time. He enlarged the Chancel and added a vestry. His diary is in the Northumberland Archives.
Today, Saint Bartholomew’s is a simple, peaceful, rural church encouraging prayer and contemplation.                                             Throughout most of its life, St Bartholomew's was a Chapel of Ease.  In the 1970's, it was made the Parish church of Kirkheaton.  At the beginning of 2011, it reverted to a Chapel of Ease and the Parish became part of Kirkwhelpington with Kirkharle and Kirkheaton

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