But today its problems have become so bad that even the latest electronic security device put up to protect it has been vandalised by yobs.
The thieves and vandals have left church officials with bills totalling many thousands of pounds.
The 1,000 year old church, in the village of Aston between Rotherham and Sheffield, has now been fitted with a new Mosquito device in an attempt to keep away the youths blamed for many of the problems there.
The Mosquito operates on the unlikely-sounding principle of emitting a high-pitched signal which is unpleasant to anyone within about 20m (65ft) of the transmitter, but only affects people aged under 25 because their hearing is more sensitive.
Police have installed the device in the porch of the building, on Church Lane, and it has proved so successful that youths who congregate there at night have twice ripped out the wiring.
Now it is to be re-mounted without exposed wires in the hope it will help to drive the offending gangs away.
Rotherham police are trialling two of the electronic transmitters and a decision will be made later about whether their use is extended to other areas.
Officers decided to install one at All Saints' Church in response to a series of incidents including persistent vandalism, where leaded windows have been repeatedly smashed and other damage caused to the church building and grounds.
But more recently thieves have struck in broad daylight, stripping lead from two sections of roof, leaving gaping holes which have had to be temporarily covered with plastic sheeting.
It is thought replacing the missing lead will cost a total of £15,000 – as the building has listed status, the repairs have to be carried out
using only the correct materials, which adds to the cost.
Church curate John Parker said: "We have had groups of youths meeting in the church porch and have had some vandalism, with windows broken and other things.
"We then had a section of lead taken from the roof on a Monday morning. It happened in broad daylight and they were seen with a car.
"Then they came back and stripped a whole length of lead from the other side.
"It is a Grade II listed building and you cannot just put a bit of felt on the roof, it has to be cast lead. We are going through the process of replacing it and have plastic sheets up because you can see straight through the gaps in the wood.
"It keeps the weather out, but it still gets cold inside," he said.
The persistent problems resulted in the church starting talks with police and that resulted in the decision to install the Mosquito, though Mr Parker said neither the church nor the police had staff available to guard the property against criminals who went up to take lead from the roof.
paul.whitehouse@ypn.co.uk