The church is dedicated to St Michael, and was originally a private chapel and was built by Sir Edward Rodes, the High Sheriff of Yorkshire, who was a conspicuous Parliamentarian.

Sir Edward was a great friend of Oliver Cromwell, when he was the Lord Protector of England.

Sir Edward died on 19 February 1666 and is buried in Darfield Church.

The chapel at Great Houghton must have been well known throughout the country as a haven for persecuted clergy of the period.

It only became part of the Church of England (under Darfield parish) in 1906 and the first Anglican service was a Holy Communion which took place on 24 November 1908.