Diocesan News September 2019 www.leeds.anglican.org Flood-hit communities pull £1/2m CofE fund together in our rural parishes for Keighley Resilient rural communities hit by churches devastating floods have been visited and praised The Church of has by the Bishop of , announced a £490,000 fund to the Rt Revd Dr Helen- be shared amongst Anglican Ann Hartley. churches in Keighley that have a strong mission to help those Revd Caroline Hewlett, battered by the storms of life. vicar of Swaledale with Arkengarthdale, was one of dozens in Swaledale and Wensleydale At nearby Bellerby, church forced out of their homes and warden at St John the she told Bishop Helen-Ann Evangelist, Dr Chris Wheatley what happened to her Reeth and PCC vice chair Bob Walker vicarage: pitched in to help friends and neighbours who suffered severe “Suddenly there was a three- flooding, some of whom met foot deep torrent of water Bishop Helen-Ann on her visit which tore through the house. and showed her the scale of the The cash will go towards damage to their properties. both existing work and fresh “The water surged on through initiatives, and support long- the garden and carried my shed “This has been a terrible time term commitments to local into the farmer’s field across for people and there is clearly people. Plans include outreach the road,” Caroline said. so much work to be done. We’ll work in the town centre and do all we can to help,” a reinvigoration of work with said Bishop Helen-Ann. children, families and estate communities. “But as is so often the case, we are The money is part of a £1.03 struck by the strength million grant from the Church and resilience of Commissioners’ Strategic these remote rural Development Fund that will be communities where shared between Keighley and people pull together in four other ‘resourcing churches’ a crisis.” in Bradford.

I Christ’s light in 175 years testing times of worship

Bishop Dr Helen-Ann celebrated in Hartley Yeadon The scene could not have LEEDS St John’s Church in been more different. I’d just Yeadon has celebrated 175 enjoyed a delicious lunch in years as a place of worship. the Reeth vicarage with vicar To mark this special occasion Caroline, curate Alison and the light and presence of the church opened its doors Kris, an ordinand on Summer Christ with her. and grounds to the public last placement from Cranmer Hall month for an action-packed in Durham. Kris was enthusing In the village hall, the local free community fun day. about his experience of rural lady coordinating the initial ministry. It was a delight response to the disaster Local dance groups and singers to listen to his growing wept out of fear for a small- performed in the church and discernment that this was holder for whom the floods outside there was much fun to exactly the sort of context in were simply too much. The which he felt God was calling Farming Community Network him to serve. were sending up a volunteer to check on him later that A week or so later I was back; day. She was relieved. I took this time wading through Caroline out for lunch, and I thick mud. The smell of had the best flat white coffee decomposing ‘who knows I’ve had in ages. Floodwater what’ was overwhelming. I had got into the café, but could just about make out the they’d got it sorted, and the garden shed on the other side aroma of fresh baking and be had with a bouncy castle, of a field, wedged sideways cakes filled the air. There penalty shootout, tin can alley between trees. The water was laughter and smiles. We and a whole range of other came with such suddenness chatted as we broke bread games for children to enjoy – and force that the floodgates together. The sun shone; the including ‘Soak the Vicar!’ were no barrier to nature’s hills around us glistened in determined strength. The the heat. On the Sunday, the church was ground floor of the vicarage then packed for worship, with squelched; tables and chairs ‘A Christian presence in every a specially made cake for the piled up. My visit to Reeth community’ is the strap-line occasion enjoyed afterwards, that day took me right into of the . That displaying St John’s Church as it the heart of Yorkshire grit and is a tremendous challenge as originally looked. resilience. Community spirit well as an opportunity. May was palpable, and everywhere we never take its value for The vicar of St John’s, Revd we went people expressed granted. Richard Walker, said, “We concern for their beloved are delighted with how this priest. Caroline was having weekend has gone. Hundreds +Helen-Ann none of it of course: she was visited us and there was out there doing her job, taking something for everyone to enjoy.”

II Caring for creation on the Cathedral hosts menu at the local pub sculpture event

RIPON “An inspiring and becoming an eco-church and WAKEFIELD The prestigious challenging service” focusing on thought carefully about how Yorkshire Sculpture ‘Caring for Creation’ has been they live their lives as stewards International arts festival came held in a local Langthorpe pub. of God’s creation. to this summer, featuring a unique The service The event was musical installation that was led by enthusiastically resonated with the building’s lay members supported with beautiful interior. of All Saints’ special thanks to Kirby Hill, who the lay members Nearly two hundred people praised God for their hard came to hear Beirut composer for the beauty work and and sound artist, Tarek Atoui’s of creation and commitment. Shuffle Orchestra. It included a reflected on series of performances in which the fragility of the world. The Revd Alison the artist activated instruments Askew, vicar of All Saint’s that then became part of an art Those present divided into Kirby Hill said: “It was a great installation. groups to discuss and commit morning and hopefully the to practical tasks which can launch pad for further activities The , the be done to reduce waste and and initiatives both in the Very Revd , said: the impact of climate change. church and wider community.” “The wonderful acoustics of the Members of All Saints’ Kirby Hill Cathedral made it a memorable also pledged to work towards experience.” ‘Care for soil, soul and society’ Fountains Church BRADFORD Plans have been at environment service revealed to turn a Bradford HUDDERSFIELD A Kirklees Stirley Community Farm. It nightclub into a new place of farm and its community included prayers for God’s worship following the promise received a blessing on of investment from the national ‘big blessing’ the farm, Church of England’s Strategic during a the beef Development Fund. special shorthorn service cattle, training A new planning application attended by allotments has been submitted to turn members worked by buildings at Glydegate Square, from the volunteers, between the Alhambra Theatre Almondbury plus the and the National Science Deanery bees and the and Media Museum, from a and two local Green Party orchard. nightclub into a church. Councillors. “We committed ourselves to The , Toby The environment-focused ‘touch the earth lightly’, to care Howarth, said the new place of service was led by Revd Canon for soil, soul and society,” Revd worship will be a “focus point Debby Plummer and held at Debby said. for faith in Bradford.” III News...... News.....News.....News.....News.....NewsDiocese of Leeds news Celebrations follow ordination of 16 new priests

Bishop of Huddersfield, , expressed , , ordained his “warmest congratulations and very best a further two new priests, Andrew Griffin at St wishes for their new ministries,” as he ordained Catherine’s Centre and Blair Radford at Monk Jenny Clarke, Jane Finn, Jessica Malay and Neil Bretton, who gave a blessing to Bishop Tony as Walpole at Halifax Minster (pictured above). part of the service (pictured above).

At Holy Trinity Church in Ripon, Bishop Helen-Ann At , Bishop ordained Hartley ordained Chris Clayton and Kim Mason Matthew Broughton, Rob Denton and Ericcson (pictured above), giving thanks to the Dean of Mapfumo (pictured above). , , for a “wonderfully RIPON Chris Clayton will serve at St Peter’s Harrogate. inspiring sermon.” Kim Mason will serve at St Mark’s Harrogate. LEEDS Matthew Broughton will serve at St Paul’s Ireland Wood. Rob Denton will serve at Osmondthorpe & Halton. Ericcson Mapfumo will serve at Potternewton & Little London. WAKEFIELD Andrew Griffin will serve at St Catherine’s Sandal & St Andrew & Mary’s Wakefield.Blair Radford will serve at St Paul’s Monk Bretton. BRADFORD Philippa Slingsby will serve at Tong and Laisterdyke. Brian Greenfield will serve at Sutton with Cowling and Lothersdale. Steve Nuttall will serve at St John’s Greengates and St John’s Thorpe Edge. Hannah Brian Greenfield, Steve Nuttall, Hannah Raitt Raitt will serve at West Bowling & Bankfoot. Natasha and Natasha Thomas were ordained at Bradford Thomas will serve at Keighley. Cathedral by Bishop Toby Howarth (pictured HUDDERSFIELD Jenny Clarke will serve at Bradshaw above), along with Philippa Slingsby who was and Holmfield.Jane Finn will serve at Halifax with Sid- dall. Jessica Malay will serve at Almondbury Team. Neil ordained a week earlier at St Christopher’s Walpole will serve at Dewsbury Team. Holmewood. Events, moves and appointments - www.leeds.anglican.org

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