St Peter the Apostle & St John the Baptist, on Doncaster Road was reportedly damaged sometime overnight on Friday February 27.
The Church, which local commentators say helped shape the history of the town also played a major role in the formation of Barnsley Football Club, and hosted some of the first planning meetings to launch Barnsley Hospice.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, parish priest, Father Paul Cartwright said: "It's always distressing when people become victims of crime, but it is especially sad when a building such as St Peters, which is at the heart of its community and has helped inform the town's history, is damaged in such a way.
"Such mindless acts like this help to reinforce people's negative perceptions of our neighbourhood and undermine the strength of love and community here.
"And it can only add to the distress of those who come into Church for a funeral, and to pray for and say goodbye to their loved ones.
"The last thing they want to see is such a lack of respect," he added.