Diocesan News August 2018 www.leeds.anglican.org ‘Raring to go’ – 18 new deacons ... as 19 new begin their ministry... priests ordained Eighteen men Priests are ambassadors of and women Christ, both servants and have begun followers of God, said Bishop ministry as Tony Robinson at Wakefield deacons Cathedral, one of the five in parish priesting services held across churches the diocese on Saturday 23 across the June. There, Bishop Nick diocese ordained five priests. following two ordination Meanwhile, Bishop of services held on Saturday 30 said preacher, Bishop Chris London, the Rt Revd Sarah June in Ripon Cathedral led Edmondson, an Honorary by Bishop Nick Baines. They Assistant Bishop, who had include a former member led the three day preparation of the Argyll and Sutherland ‘retreat’ for the eighteen new Highlanders, a police curates. “However incomplete communications officer, a they may be,” he added, “they fishmonger, a construction are raring to go, ready, willing, engineer from Zimbabwe and realistic about the challenges a university lecturer from the but excited to get stuck in to United States. the various ministries to which God has called them.“ “They are wonderful, gifted, Mullally, gave the sermon passionate people, full of Within the Church of England at Leeds Minster where six energy but like the rest of there are three stages of priests were ordained by us they are incomplete,” ordained ministry: deacons, the Bishop of Kirkstall, Paul priests and bishops. Slater. Bishop Jonathan Gibbs Following training ordained three new priests at at theological Huddersfield Parish Church college, newly and Bishop Toby Howarth ordained deacons ordained one at Bradford are appointed as Cathedral. At Ripon Cathedral, curates. After one Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley year, deacons are ordained four priests during normally ordained as what she called “a wonderful, priests. joyous afternoon.” I A Shred of Thornhill Evidence? alive with Bishop Jonathan the sound of Gibbs music I have just returned from HUDDERSFIELD A church one of the most rural and project to bring music to the community, begun by isolated churches in this area. that this church has focused the parish of Thornhill near It is called “Shred Church” its energies on providing Dewsbury, has resulted in the (that’s another story) and is something that attracts recording of a new CD and the tucked away in the hills above children and that helps commissioning of a song for the Slaithwaite, with few houses them and their parents village. Thanks to an HLF grant, nearby. feel welcome and part of the Thornhill Community Choir a community. There are was formed, and meets weekly What is interesting is that also good links with the at the parish church. Tuition what goes on there is almost local school, and the church is provided by Musica Kirklees entirely lay-led and absolutely building hosts a playgroup and Performing Arts etc Ltd focused on attracting children during the week. Children are who also worked with children and their families. There is clearly central to everything from local schools. a Sunday School that meets they do. every week at 11.15am, during which parents and One woman told me that her carers stay for coffee and a family had started coming natter. Once a month there five years ago, with no church is a family service, which the background whatsoever, vicar attends and in which the and now they would have Four songs were written at each children share something they no hesitation in describing school, while the music team, have prepared in the Sunday themselves as Christian – and working with the Thornhill School – and their mums and they clearly all enjoy being Community Choir came up with dads (and more) come along part of the church. and take part. the finale on the CD, the song for the village of Thornhill. “All The “shred of evidence” these songs were recorded So how many people do here, it seems to me, is that in church on 21st and 22nd you think were there today? putting children first, making of June at two concerts,” says Twenty maybe, or thirty at a good links with local schools, church member, Brian Pearson. push? Well in fact there were and providing a place where almost seventy-five people at families feel welcome can be a “About 200 children took part the service, including more winning formula. than twenty children. There in half day rehearsals followed by a concert each day attended was nothing wacky about the So why don’t more of us try it by 200 parents, and the service – it was just straight- and see where the evidence Community choir were involved forward all-age worship – but leads? the place was humming. too. The result is the recording and the CD is launched this +Jonathan week.” What seems crucial to me is Bishop of Huddersfield II Wading into the waters in Medieval ‘gem’ Swaledale for river baptisms restored RIPON Christians ranging in pictured left). WAKEFIELD Work is almost age from nine to seventy-five complete to restore and protect have been baptised in the chilly Christian baptisms were first Wakefield’s medieval bridge waters of the River Swale in recorded in the ‘holy’ River chapel - one of only three the Yorkshire Dales, following Swale nearly fourteen hundred in the country - for future in the footsteps of generations. Scaffolding has the first Christians finally come down from around in the area nearly the Chantry Chapel of St Mary’s fourteen hundred on Wakefield Bridge and years ago who were work on essential repairs and baptised by the 7th refurbishment is expected to be century Bishop of completed at the time of going York, Paulinus. to press. The river baptism The chapel is one of just three service on Sunday 1 bridge chapels in the country, July brought together churches years ago when the first bishop only two of which are still in in the Richmond area and of York, St Paulinus, baptized use for worship. It was built by was led by the Archdeacon thousands of converts in the the townspeople of Wakefield of Richmond and Craven, the river around the year 627 AD between 1342 and 1356, when Venerable Beverley Mason according to historian, the a new stone bridge across the (pictured right, along with Venerable Bede. River Calder was projected. the Revd Yvonne Callaghan, Ring Out those Bells £500k boost BRADFORD The city’s bells have been repaired and LEEDS Hard work in the heart cathedral bells are once restored as part of a wider of the community has earned again ringing out after being heritage project which includes St Luke’s church, Holbeck, rededicated by the Dean of the exhibition, guided tours and £500,000 from the National Bradford and a special booklet Lottery. The grant will go the Lord Mayor launched at the towards a complete renovation of Bradford. A rededication and extension of the Malvern rededication event. Road building including a new evening last kitchen area, extra rooms and month included Bradford opening a community café. guided tours Cathedral is given by local the oldest “The grant is absolutely schoolchildren, building in the brilliant,” said Canon Alistair a special choral city. The bell Kaye. “It’s going to create so evensong, and a presentation tower (which today has twelve many more opportunities. We on the project. bells) was finished in 1508 and are right in the heart of the the ten bells which have been estate and we are a community Thanks to Heritage Lottery restored were first hung in the building. We want to make it Funding of £79,100, the peal tower in 1921 as a First World work for the community and of First World War memorial War memorial. people here.” III News......News.....News.....News.....News.....NewsDiocese of Leeds news ‘Inspirational’ and ‘amazing’ – warm Synod’s call to appreciation for Lay Conference close national wealth gap Diocesan Synod, meeting in Harrogate, has backed two motions around the Christian imperative to support poor and disadvantaged people, one calling for the reduction of the national wealth gap. Both will now go for debate by General Synod. ‘An excellent day with Russell. “You are the only Bible inspirational speakers...’; most people will ever read,” ‘Thank you for an amazing, he told delegates. “You are the God-centred day’; ‘Absolutely fifth Gospel.” amazing day. Feeling blessed and inspired.’;‘… uplifiting and A wide range of some 40 stalls affirming...’ filled the vast ‘Market Place’, and a new online learning portal Just some of the many positive was unveiled by the Director of The goals of the developing comments from the 900 Lay Training, Hayley Matthews, Diocesan Strategy were also delegates who came to the offering more support and unveiled including addressing first ever Diocese of Leeds Lay recognition for a wider range of challenges such as the need to Conference, Together in Faith, lay ministries both inside and increase vocations by 50 per at the Harrogate Convention outside the church. cent and the call to empower Centre in June. the laity and promote “whole- In his conclusion, Bishop Nick life” discipleship. The day was packed with talks told delegates, “Go away and workshops with a team of and talk to one another, to Bishop Jonathan Gibbs and national speakers travelling to your friends, your families Director of Education Richard Harrogate to lead around 24 and your churches about Noake gave a presentation on different seminars. Leading the what has grasped your spirit. the need for closer engage- main sessions were key-note Take responsibility for your ment between churches and speakers, Mark Russell, CEO discipleship and for your church schools.