From a very early stage in its history, Rochdale consisted of five divisions or townships: in the Lancashire part of the parish was Butterworth, Castleton (in which stood the parish church), Hundersfield and Spotland; Saddleworth, for ecclesiastical purposes, was a part of Rochdale, but lay entirely in Yorkshire and otherwise had only a "very slight" connection to the parish.
Rochdale's history began with five distinct areas or townships from its inception: Butterworth, Castleton (housing the parish church), Hundersfield, and Spotland were located in Lancashire within the parish; Saddleworth, for religious purposes, was part of Rochdale but resided entirely in Yorkshire with a "minimal" connection to the parish.