www.upperwharfedalechurches.org Parish of Upper Wharfedale A Dales Prayer May the Father's grace abound in you as the flowing water of the beck. May the Son's love and hope invigorate you as the rising slopes of fell and dale. andMay the Spirit's companionship Littondale be with you as the glory of the golden meadows . Our Prayer May the Father's grace abound in you as the flowing water of the beck. May the Son's love and hope invigorate you as the rising slopes of fell and dale. May the Spirit's companionship be with you as the glory of the golden meadows. Welcome elcome to the Parish of Upper involved in the life of the community. Wharfedale and Littondale, W which those of us who live here Our Parish lies in the Yorkshire Dales can justifiably claim to be the loveliest National Park, an area recognised for its parish in England. This spectacular extraordinary natural beauty, the diversity setting provides an inspiring backdrop for of its wildlife habitats, its rich cultural our spiritual journey, in which church heritage and its fantastic opportunities for members stand together on the cusp of a outdoor recreation. new adventure of discipleship in our recently formed Parish. The Yorkshire Dales are not a wilderness. This is a living, working environment, Vibrant communities live in the villages home to 24,000 people. It includes some of the Parish and all have enthusiastic and of the finest limestone scenery in the UK, active worshipping families. We are open from crags and pavements to an and welcoming to all and extend the underground labyrinth of caves. hospitality of Jesus to people of all faiths and none, whatever their background and Each valley or ‘dale’ has its own distinct identity. character, and each of our church communities brings its own character to As in so many villages in this part of the the fore in the way its members express world, community life is rich and revolves their faith within this remarkable around the church, landscape. How we do school, hall and pub. that is set out in the The four pages that follow. churches of our Parish are . deeply Our Diocese he Parish of Upper Wharfedale and (Bradford, Huddersfield, Kirkstall, Littondale is part of the diocese of Wakefield and Ripon) and five T Leeds, which comprises archdeacons (Bradford, five Episcopal Areas, each Halifax, Leeds, coterminous with an Pontefract, Richmond Archdeaconry. This is & Craven). Our now one of the Parish lies within largest dioceses in the Episcopal the country and its Area of Ripon, creation is and the Bishop of unprecedented in Ripon is the Rt the history of the Revd Dr Helen- Church of Ann Hartley. England. It covers an area of around Our vision as the 2,425 square miles, diocese is about and a population of confident clergy around 2,642,400 people. equipping confident Christians to live and tell the The three former dioceses were created in good news of Jesus Christ. For all of our the nineteenth and early twentieth appointments we are seeking clergy who centuries to cater for massive population have a joyful and confident faith which changes brought about by has inspired a track record of church industrialisation and, later, mass growth, both numerically and spiritually. immigration. The diocese comprises major cities (Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield), large industrial and post- industrial towns (Halifax, Huddersfield, Dewsbury), a spa town (Harrogate), market towns (Skipton, Ripon, Richmond and Wetherby), and deeply rural areas (the Dales). The whole of life is here, along with all the richness, diversity and complexities of a changing world. The Diocesan Bishop (The Rt Revd Nick Baines) is assisted by five Area Bishops Our Parish and People The Buckden Singers is a 40-strong local choir which also supports worship at St Michael & All Angels, Hubberholme several times a year. e live in the heart of the Our Parish covers the river valleys of the Yorkshire Dales in tiny Wharfe and its tributary the Skirfare – one W hamlets and small ancient of the shortest rivers in England – together villages that sit amongst traditional with the surrounding hills, covering 80 farming landscapes of field barns, square miles. The source of the Wharfe is drystone walls and flower-rich hay at in Langstrothdale, at the head of Upper meadows, an area shaped by the people Wharfedale. As it wends down the valley, who have lived, worked and worshipped the Wharfe runs past and through the here for over a thousand years. villages of Hubberhome, Buckden, Spectacular waterfalls and ancient Starbotton, Kettlewell, Kilnsey and broadleaved woodland contrast with the Conistone. The Skirfare river arises in the scattered remains of former mine village of Foxup at the head of Littondale, workings and other rural industries which and flows down through Halton Gill, remind us of the area’s industrial heritage. Litton, Arncliffe and Hawkswick to meet Together, nature and people have created the Wharfe. a special landscape of immense beauty and character. Many of the families in the Dales have lived here for centuries, and our Parish is no exception – it is not unusual to find three or even four generations of one family living in the same village. Other familes have arrived here more recently, some for work, others for retirement. We also have many regular visitors – people who have a second home here, or who regularly return for holidays and short breaks. Our resident population of around 900 people swells dramatically in the summer months with an influx of visitors; walkers, climbers, runners, cyclists, tourists, artists, naturalists, etc, all appreciating the extraordinary beauty of this area. Many of these visitors seek spiritual refreshment and solace, finding it The Upper Wharfedale Refugee Support in our churches and in our worship. Group organises regular visits to the Parish for refugees living in the region Numerous local groups are active in addressing social and environmental We have a close relationship with Scargill issues, in supporting sports and leisure House on the outskirts of Kettlewell, activities, and in running various home to a Christian community of around community organisations. Examples 35 people who follow a ‘new monastic’ include the Upper Wharfedale Refugee lifestyle and welcome people for Support Group, the Buckden Art Group, holidays, conferences and retreats and the Buckden Singers, the Upper offering a place of relaxation, refreshment Wharfedale Arts and Literature Society, and learning for churches, groups and and many other formal and informal individuals. groups. Scargill House – a Christian community and conference centre Grassington Festival The nearest large village is Grassington, The local secondary school is in seven miles from Kettlewell, and has Threshfield on the outskirts of small supermarket, post office, hardware Grassington. A small school by national shop, several craft shops, book shops and standards, it’s curriculum has been cafés, a Town Hall and even a small local developed to promote high aspiration and museum. Grassington is also where the skills for lifelong learning in each pupil. local doctor’s surgery, dentist and chemist At the last Ofsted inspection in June 2019 are located. Larger stores and the school was designated as ‘Outstanding supermarkets are to be found in Skipton in all areas’. and Settle, around 14 and 15 miles to the south and west, respectively. Kettlewell Village Hall is the venue for many of the activities organised by the community throughout the year. Grassington is a thriving community with Our rural villages are supported by The two large festivals each year – Upper Wharfedale Venturer community Grassington Arts Festival, which takes bus service to Grassington. The service place over two weeks in June, and the runs three times per day each week and Christmas Dickensian Festival, held on five times per day on Saturdays. two separate weekends in early December. Villages of Upper Wharfedale St Michael & All Angels, Hubberholme dates from Norman times and is noted for its 16th century rood loft and ‘Mouseman’ furniture. th Hubberholme & Buckden between the 12 century church of St th Michael and All Angels and the 18 century George Inn. The river has flooded angstrothdale lies at the head of the church at least once when, legend has Upper Wharfedale, and is one of it, fish actually swam between the pews. J the smaller valleys in the Dales, L B Priestley, one of Yorkshire's best-loved with several tiny hamlets - Outershaw, Beckermonds, Deepdale, Yockenthwaite writers, described Hubberholme as ‘one of the smallest and pleasantest places in and Hubberholme. the world’ and requested that his ashes be scattered in the churchyard. Hubberholme is a beautiful village, where the Wharfe flows under the bridge The start of the Palm Sunday procession from Buckden to Hubberholme The George was at one time the vicarage impressive bulk of Buckden Pike, as well and it was traditional for the vicar to keep as the hamlet of Cray. Set in the heart of a lighted candle in the window so the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National parishioners knew that they were Park, Buckden is a popular destination for welcome to call. When it became The walkers and holidaymakers. George in 1754, it was still owned by the Church and the tradition of lighting the There are approximately 180 residents of candle whenever the pub is open Buckden and the surrounding small continued. villages, a thriving local community with the local economy based largely on The George is the location of the dale’s farming and tourism. quaint highlight of the year, the annual land-letting auction, known as the The Village Institute provides an Hubberholme Parliament, which is held important location for a wide range of on the first Monday night in January in a social activities, including quizzes, whist tradition that dates back centuries.