BENEFICE OF BARNOLDSWICK WITH BRACEWELL Our rural benefice We are situated on the Lancashire / Yorkshire border, approximately seven miles from Skipton - Gateway to the Dales - and seven miles from the town of Clitheroe in the picturesque Ribble Valley. Barnoldswick (known by the locals as Barlick) is a fascinating place to live and visit and is listed in The Doomsday Book. It is not just a product of the industrial revolution, but as its name implies it was born from medieval history that has left behind 27 Grade 1 and 2 listed buildings. The stone-built streets surround a traditional town centre with a restful square at the heart of the community. Barnoldswick is where Bronte country meets the Yorkshire Dales, Pendle Hill and the Forest of Bowland. Pennine cycle and bridleway routes pass through Barnoldswick and the highest summit stretch of the Leeds and Liverpool canal weaves through the town. It has wonderful walking countryside with the high moorland of Weets Hill boasting one of Britain’s best views of lowland landscapes. Distinctly different, Barnoldswick’s bustling shops provide a wealth of individual services for the local people and visitors. Many of the shops are run by local families with a high proportion of independent traders. Full of friendly folk, Barnoldswick is perfect for a restful or eventful visit or place to live. The population is approximately 11,000. The town square holds many social events such as: St. George’s Day Celebration, Bands on the Square, Barnoldswick Beach during the school holidays, united services for Easter and Christmas (including the ‘Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Parade’). There is a small market two days per week. Major employers are: • Silentnight • Rolls Royce • Hope Technology • Carlson Filtration Adjacent to the technology college is a swimming pool and sports centre. Other facilities include the Rainhall Centre which houses an NHS clinic, a chiropodist, osteopath, a medical call centre and other small businesses as well as a hall used for pilates, yoga, art classes, a free cinema and other public functions. There are four primary schools one of which is the recently built Church School, a comprehensive / technology college and two nurseries. BARNOLDSWICK WITH BRACEWELL 1 The town also has one care home, one nursing home and five supported/sheltered housing developments and St. Andrew’s House for special needs care. http://barlickbracewellparishes.org.uk/Barlick http://www.visitbarnoldswick.co.uk/ About our Churches… Holy Trinity, Barnoldswick Background Holy Trinity is an impressive church built on a hill in the middle of town where the spire can be seen for miles and is a beacon for walkers and hikers from the surrounding hills. Its prominent position proclaims that God is indeed present in this community. The church was born from a thriving cotton weaving town and to ease the older churches of St Mary Le Ghyll and St Michael’s, Bracewell. It was also built to replace a church around the corner, St. James’, which was originally built as a school in 1838 and became a church in 1842, but due to a deteriorating structure it was demolished. It is situated in the centre of Barnoldswick and is easily accessible from all the town’s car parks and bus routes. Architecture Holy Trinity Church was built and consecrated in 1960 by Dr Donald Coggan, Bishop of Bradford. Originally there was a tower but as there were continuing problems this was replaced by a small spire. The interior of the church has some interesting features. There are mosaics around the font and in front of the altar. Above the altar is an imposing red cross. BARNOLDSWICK WITH BRACEWELL 2 Behind the altar is a screen behind which is St. James’ Chapel, used for quiet prayer and smaller said communion services. There is an organ used by our three organists. We have a sound amplification and induction loop system. In addition and at a much later date a church hall was built in the interior at the rear of the church. It consists of a first floor with three rooms, one of which is used for Sunday School, one used as a quiet room and one for a clergy office. From the largest of the three rooms, a bay window looks over the main body of the church. At the rear of the main body of the church and through glass sliding doors is our meeting / coffee / social area. Here we hold coffee mornings, P.C.C. meetings etc. There is a kitchen and toilet facilities. At the west side of the church is the old choir vestry and office, both offering great potential for development. We believe we are a progressive congregation continually looking for ways to grow God’s church here in Barnoldswick. It is important to us to be warm and welcoming to all. Services Attendance figures Pattern of services (per service) 2016 2017 Wednesday 9.00am Morning Prayer 4 2 Thursday 10.00am Holy Communion 15 15 Thursday 3.30pm Trinity TeaTime 22 20 Sunday 10.00am Holy Communion 32 32 4th Sunday 3.00pm Café Church 20 16 Sunday School meets once per month and joins the congregation during communion. After each service the congregation enjoys fellowship over a cup of coffee in the meeting area at the back of church. ** United services rotate between all three churches on a fifth Sunday. BARNOLDSWICK WITH BRACEWELL 3 St. Mary-le-Ghyll Background St. Mary-le-Ghyll is a Grade 1 listed building, set in a beautiful rural location at the end of a long country lane. Ghyll Church, as it is known locally, was built in 1157 and completed in 1160 by a band of monks sent from Kirkstall Abbey. The monks first arrived in 1147 with instructions to build a church, but they fell out with the existing vicar and congregation, which resulted in them demolishing the old church on Monkroyd hill and heading back to Kirkstall. This didn't go down too well so back they had to come and finally built the church, 1½ miles from the centre of town! Architecture The original building was lower than the present one and had a thatched roof, which was replaced with a stone slated high pitched roof in the 13th or 14th century and the south aisle was added at the same time. The chancel is probably original and the tower was added in 1524. The font is 14th century and before the Reformation was kept locked to prevent the theft of holy water. The three- tier Jacobean pulpit and oak box pews were installed in 1620 which the church has retained. On the support of the credence shelf the carving of three daggers, which is the coat of arms of Kirkstall Abbey, can be seen. The bells were cast and hung in 1723. For its age Ghyll is in good condition, although there are some ongoing repairs in progress, some pointing and plastering work, guttering and the tower roof. These are related to the last quinquennial report in 2015. A sound amplification and induction loop system has been installed. Services Attendance figures Pattern of services (per service) 2016 2017 1st Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion 21 21 2nd Sunday 10.30am Morning Prayer, led by 21 21 Lay Worship leaders 3rd Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion 21 21 4th Sunday 11.30am Morning Prayer 21 21 Coffee is served after the service in the Coach House on the 2nd Sunday of the month. BARNOLDSWICK WITH BRACEWELL 4 Ghyll church, originally the parish church, is part of Barnoldswick Parish. We have a small, faithful congregation of mixed ages and there is a strong team spirit with everyone pulling together to share jobs. There is a particularly strong association between the people of Barnoldswick and Ghyll Church through weddings, funerals and baptisms. The church has great social and religious significance and attracts visitors from far and wide. Church bells In 2007 an appeal was set up to refurbish the three original bells and to add another three, this was done to celebrate the church’s 850th anniversary and completed in 2009. We have a very enthusiastic team of bell ringers (many of whom are regular church-goers) who would like to augment a ring of eight bells, so continue to fundraise to complete the project, they also do much work to improve the bell tower and pay for materials required. The bells ring out every Sunday calling us to worship and also ring for weddings and funerals, when requested. The bells can be heard around the town each Tuesday evening during bell-ringing practice and whenever guest bell-ringing teams visit. Welcoming church At the entrance to the large churchyard there is a building known as The Coach House. A group of the congregation decided it needed upgrading and making into a pleasant place to provide hospitality for the congregation and for weddings, so they set about fund-raising and have recently re-plastered, decorated, fitted a new kitchen and new carpet – doing most of the work themselves. The expanse of grass in front of Ghyll church lends itself well to community events and is a valued part of the mission and outreach strategy of the parish. In 2017 we invited families to picnic on the lawn and to bring along their teddy bear. The ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ was a great success. Many events are hosted at Ghyll church across the year including: Taize style prayer services, Songs of Praise and exhibitions. The congregation is keen to expand on these events and welcome new ideas. BARNOLDSWICK WITH BRACEWELL 5 St.