A church at Kildwick was recorded in Domesday Book where Archil has 2 carucates for geld, and 1 church (VCH 1912, 207). Subsequently the king had 2 carucates in Kildwick (VCH 1912, 307n), and was part of the grant made to Robert de Romeli.
Cecila de Romeli and her husband, William Meschines, founded Embsay Priory in 1120. When Cecilia later confirmed the gift of Embsay to the priory, she granted with it the whole vill of Kildwick (VCH 1913, 195).
The parish was extensive, including Kildwick, Silsden, Steeton, Holden, Farnhill, Estburne, Bradley, Cowling, Cononley, Glusburne and Sutton in Airedale (or Sutton-in-Craven).