The existing church of St Michael in Farnley is comparatively new, though built on the site of older chapels. Baptisms and burials were carried out here from an early period; some memorial stones in the church yard date back to the 17th century. Known records date back to 1624.
Earlier records are with Leeds Parish from 1572 and the earliest independent Farnley Baptisms appear to be loose pages at the back of the register that starts in 1793. The loose pages cover 1791-1792 and are so faded that the dates are invisible, though the names have been re-inked. The entries with missing dates can be found on the IGI. There also appears to be a gap in the local records 1800-1804. Earler events were recorded at Leeds Parish Church and they are included here. One of the earliest baptisms recorded there is the baptism of Alice Naylor, daughter of John Naylor of Farnley, on the 15th of May 1572.