Parson Bull (Rev G S Bull) held services in cottages in the neighbourhood and this formed the nucleus of a congregation at Bankfoot. St Matthews was built by Mallinson and Healey architects in 1849 and was copied the following year with a few modifications at St Michael and All Angels Shelf. It was consecrated by Dr Longley, Bishop of Ripon who later became Archbishop of Canterbury. The Low Moor Company gave the land on which the church, churchyard and vicarage stood. John Hardy of the Low Moor Co became patron of the living and contributed to the endowment. The first incumbent was Rev Peter Henderson MA. Various alterations and additions were made over the years but in 2008 the community facility, The Cube, a glass enclosed meeting space inside the church building was opened. The proceeds of the sale of the church hall enabled this work and other reordering of the building to be done.
When established the parish of Bankfoot was partly in the township of North Bierley and partly in West Bowling.

Its parish still covers parts of Wibsey and Odsal.