When you start uncovering floors and moving large items you find things which need attention too. There was woodworm in the wall panelling and also the floor.  This will be treated as part of the project.  The blower box for the organ was riddled with woodworm and almost fell apart when it was moved.  We felt we had to cure the damp patch in the NW corner before proceeding with dry-lining, so that required a roof repair. We also discovered that a panel in the side wall disguised a large space which previously housed a heater for the old school room.  Since we were short of storage space this will become a very useful cupboard.

At the time of writing our church is simply a large open space with several hatches in the floor for new heating pipes to be fitted. The old ones were in a poor state of repair.  The walls have been dry-lined with insulation and skimmed and the plaster is drying ready for repainting.  We have upgraded the electrical supply so that we now have a ring main rather than just 2 socket outlets.  One window has been boarded up while it is being rebuilt, with double glazing, and made to open to provide the ventilation which we badly need and which was recommended in our last Quinquennial Report.

We are keeping to the original timescale thanks to a great deal of hard work by our volunteers and the cooperation of all our contractors.  By the time you read this, most of the major work will be completed and we will be able to start putting things back and to make Christ Church look like a church again.

We look forward to welcoming you all to our official opening on September 30^th.

Darley Church Committee

On  Saturday  21st  July, a year of Prayer by The Church in the Dale in preparation for and celebration of the Olympics produced a  ‘Prayer  Relay  And  Marathon’.   – Through the year prayers have been offered for every country in the world, as well as specific Olympic groups and bodies ;  in early July over 60 national flags were shared between the churches in the dale to be welcomed and housed  __  and on Saturday 21st, with short acts of prayer at each hosting church and meeting point,  we set off to bring these flags together : 11.30am – St Jude’s, and St Saviour’s Thornthwaite ;  12.30pm Summerbridge Methodist, also Dacre URC ;  11.45 – Darley Methodist then 12noon Christ Church  — all these coming together for welcome and lunch at Holy Trinity, Dacre ;  some now passed their prayers and flags to others (Relay),  some walked on (Marathon!) __ and together we travelled up the dale to meet with those from all other churches – all  routes converge at the bandstand in the recreation ground Pateley Bridge by 4.25pm for the closing celebration at 4.30pm.       All flags and prayers flying. These pictures, like the world, need to be in rainbow colours!   Perfect weather,   excellent company,    beautiful intentions.   We continue to pray.

You do not have to be a churchgoer to be married in church; a residence qualification is all that’s required. It’s important to know that simply living in the parish confers rights to be married in the parish church. You can choose any one of our 5 licensed buildings for your wedding.

We do not allow any of our churches to be “booked” so that other licensed clergy can officiate, though we warmly welcome visiting clergy to take part in the service at the request of the couple.

We are delighted to offer a Service of Blessing for those who have registered a second marriage.

We hope our church communities are lively, welcoming and inclusive – remember, we are all God’s children and equal in his sight!

The Great Milk Stout Ride, has become an institution and has grown to become upper Nidderdale’s largest fundraising event, generating almost £450,000 for Macmillan since it began in 1993. The idea was born out of a challenge to see who could raise the most money for charity among the regulars at the Birch Tree Inn, Wilsill.

It was decided to donate the money raised to Macmillan Cancer Support, whose nurses provide care for cancer sufferers, and as a memorial to a local Glasshouses man – and friend – John Woodhouse, who had recently died from cancer and whose family had received essential support from Macmillan.

Since then the event, which takes place in September every year, has grown to become a fixture for hundreds of cyclists and charity fundraisers. Setting off from the showground, Pateley Bridge, intrepid cyclists can choose the 20-mile Full Monty, the ten-mile Half-Litre route, or the punishing X-treme 25, which includes the one-in-four ascent of the vertiginous Silver Hill out of Pateley Bridge.

Chairman of the Great Milk Stout Ride, Mike Holt, from Glasshouses, said: “It’s tremendously encouraging that even in the current economic climate, through people’s generosity and determination we have raised £17,500 for Macmillan – an incredibly worthy cause. I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part and all the local businesses who have supported us in raising our total.”

Mike added: “So many people’s lives have been touched by cancer and it is particularly sad that earlier this year Barbara Woodhouse, the widow of John, in whose memory the Great Milk Stout Ride was started, also passed away from cancer. It shows how vital events like these are in raising money for cancer care.”

At the presentation evening trophies were also presented teams and individuals who had raised the largest amount of sponsorship in each category, and also for fancy dress. The Team Challenge Trophy was won for a second year by the Woodhouse Wanderers; the Rob Smith Memorial Trophy was won by Marion Stockdale; Chris and Marjorie Sexton scooped the fancy dress prize for the second year running dressed as Hia and Lowa Watha. The Pateley Club was the winner of the Pub Shield, and the Patrick Bickers Memorial Shield for Corporate Teams was won by All Occasions Marquees for a second year.

Mike Holt and Bob Drake, two of the Great Milk Stout Ride organisers, present a cheque to Macmillan fundraising manager, Charlotte Stern

This article contributed by Sarah Hone

Three weeks later, on Sunday 23rd October, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds (John) will administer the sacrament of Confirmation at 4pm in St Cuthbert’s, Pateley Bridge. Again, we shall enjoy tea after the service in The Lounge.

Please keep both our Bishops in your prayers together with the clergy and people of The Church in The Dale. Thank you.

O Lord our God,
who has ordained from the beginning of creation
that all humanity, whatever their race or religion,
are equal in your sight;
break down the hatred which so easily divides us
especially at this time of national tragedy for the people of Norway.
Strengthen them in their grief and shock.
Give comfort to the dying,
recovery and health to the injured,
your embracing arms to hold the bereaved.
May all the people of that great nation
feel the support and prayers of the world
through the coming weeks and months.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus,
who gave up his life for our sake. Amen.

En Bønn for folket av Norge

O Herre vår Gud,
som har ordained fra begynnelsen av skapelse som all humanitet,
uansett hva deres løp eller religion, er lik i din sikt ;
brudd ned hatet som slik lett deler oss spesielt på denne tiden av
nasjonal tragedie for folket av Norge.
Styrk dem i deres sorg og sjokk. Gi trøst til det dør,
gjenvinning og helse til det sårede,
din omfavnende armer å holde det sørgende.
Kan alt folket av den store nasjet
føler støtten og bønnene av verdenen gjennom kommende ukene og månedene.
Vi lager denne bønnen i navnet av Jesus, som gi opp hans liv for vår skyld. Amen.