Documentary records are believed to indicate the presence of a Church on or near this site prior to the Domesday Book (Atkinson 1993, 1). The present building has late 12th century origins but was significantly remodelled externally in the 15th century when the tower was rebuilt (Ryder 1982, 96). Silkstone Church was given to the monks of Pontefract in 1284 at the time of the ordination of a new vicarage (HSY6322) (Holbrey 1991, 1). It is uncertain whether Cawthorne's or Silkstone's church was the mother church for the Wapentake of Staincross. The inclusion in the Domesday Book of a church at Cawthorne and the omission at Silkstone may indicate Cawthorne was primary. However, the Cawthorne's church was later subservient to Silkstone. (Hey 1979, 33). Within this polygon area the remains of the gardens associated with the vicarage, and the Vicarage which was constructed in 1825 to replace the one to the east. There is no legibility of the Saxon church.