The site was initially developed as Heaton Chapel, a Chapel of ease to the Parish Church of Birstall. This was a huge parish extending from Bradford to Dewsbury. Whitechapel covered the hamlets of Scholes and Oakenshaw, and the townships of Wyke and Cleckheaton, 'that no man may die without baptism'. This was for the convenience of the local people, due to the distance to travel to Birstall. A Chapel of Ease had the right of baptism and Sunday services, but it was still necessary to travel to Birstall for marriages and funerals until 1706, when Whitechapel was granted the right of burial.A History of the Ancient Parish of Birstall. H. C. Craddock MA 1933. A number of gravestones dating from this period can be found in the grounds. The churchyard today has over 1000 graves; most of these were documented by a Mr. A. Blackburn of Bradford in 1928.Parish records. Volunteers are currently in the process of updating this document. It was not until 1837 that marriages could be performed at this church.
