At the Bradford Literature Festival this week, Bishop Nick chaired a discussion on the tensions between historical narratives and faith narratives. Historian Tom Holland and journalist Abdul-Rehman Malik were invited to consider such questions as How can we tell the difference between truth and interpretation?  What happens to the accounts of different faith figures when held up against historical documents and archaeological records? How can the conflict inherent in these comparisons be resolved? Does it need to be?

Bishop Nick said, “In history writing of any sort, no one can be neutral. Most modern historians leave God out of their account; but the assumption that God is not involved in history is as much an ideological position as the assumption that he is”.

Tom Holland said that a historian needs to guard against a rigid search for what they consider to be ‘true’. He said, “There were periods of mythic history such as the Trojan War and King Arthur that I desperately wanted to be true, but the more I read I realised I was asking the wrong questions. These narratives were fascinating for what they said about the people who fashioned them, and their potency conveys a truth that transcends whether or not King Arthur or Helen of Troy existed.

“Instead of the temptation to sift for flecks of reality, we need to get into the writer’s mind set, to understand their understanding of reality, not to try and reveal, by our exacting documentary standards, what actually happened. The fascination of historical study is discovering the multiplicity of ways in which the world is and has been seen and understood.”

Bishop Nick agreed that the understanding of context was crucial and recalled a New Testament professor telling him that to really understand St Paul (and the thought world he was addressing) you need to read Cicero’s ‘On The Nature of the Gods’.

Tom Holland also said the fact that  Islam is now beginning to undergo the sort of historical scrutiny that Christianity has undergone, shows how Islam is being normalised. “Unlike in the 19th and 20th centuries, scholars are now interested in Islam and its origins.” And in response to a question about Islamophobia,  he said it was Islamophobic not to want to investigate and understand the origins of Islam.

The panel was also asked about the need for religious teaching in schools. Tom Holland said that sometimes the way that comparative religions are taught rids them of life for students - "it's akin to pinning the butterflies of the various species of faith to a board", and Bishop Nick said, “Faith can’t be taught as a commodity or an object, it needs to be inhabited”.

Abdul-Rehman Malik, who has taught history in Canada, said he had been criticised for teaching Hinduism as if he believed it - betraying his Muslim faith - but he felt proud to have been mistaken for a believer in wanting to get inside and respect the experience of the other’s faith.

Tom Holland also argued that Christianity should have privileged position in RE because it is crucial to the understanding of so much literature, history and art.

The Bradford Literature Festival continues until 29 May.

“Our media are not only religiously illiterate, but proud of it,”Paul Vallely, award winning international reporter.

Encouraging religious literacy in the media was at the top of the agenda when Huddersfield University hosted a lively debate with celebrated panellists from the world of journalism to mark the launch of a new handy guide for reporters called The Caliphate.

Paul Vallely, former Yorkshire Post reporter, who now writes on political, cultural and ethical issues for national and international broadsheets, warned the audience that faith was simply not part of the vocabulary of modern journalism which made this problem much bigger than many people appreciated.

Our media are not only religiously illiterate, but proud of it,” said Paul, who chaired the evening held and hosted by Huddersfield University’s School of Journalism.

The author of The Caliphate, researcher and consultant specialising in the history of religions and human rights at Oxford University, Sean Oliver-Dee told the audience he had lived in both India and London and wanted people to have a better understanding of the role religion played in world politics and get away from a strictly western view to better understand the symbolic importance of the Caliphate.

A copy of his book – The Caliphate – has been distributed to every newsroom in the country by publishers, Lapido Media – a British based charity working to change understanding of religion’s impact on world affairs.

Sean made up a distinguished panel of guests for the debate on the concept of the caliphate. As well as Paul Vallely,  he was joined by Aaqil Ahmed, BBC’s Head of Religion and Ethics; Dr Mercy Ette, Director of the BA in Journalism at Huddersfield University, who has worked as a journalist in both Nigeria and the UK and Dr Afshin Shahi, Director of the Centre for the Study of Political Islam and lecturer in International politics and Middle East politics at Bradford University. 

Dr Shahi said religion was here to stay and it had wide reaching social and political consequences.

“We cannot reduce Islam to a single division; I was brought up in Iran and in my own neighbourhood there were so many different versions of Islam; different manifestations of the same faith.

“Like Christianity, Islam is a dynamic religion; its perspectives respond to the socio-political and socio-economic issues of the time; we cannot understand its narrative in a historical vacuum,” he said.

(Pictured from left to right, Sean Oliver-Dee Aaqil Ahmed, Paul Vallely, Dr Mercy Ette and Dr Afshin Shahi)

Aaqil talked about being proud of commissioning the Cult of a Suicide Bomber during his time at C4 and generally about the difficulty in finding ways to bring religion to the masses through the medium of television. He said one problem we could not overlook was  an audience would be made up of people of very different ranges of understanding and so you had to talk about religious literacy at many levels.

Mercy said as a journalist you had to engage your audience and that was about telling stories and with the changes in newsroom budgets, it now meant journalists did not have the time to spend on story.

“All too often, they have to fly in, get a soundbite and get out,” she said,.

And it was this reason, she continued, that they tended to use simplistic shared meanings to try and simplify complex issues for their audience.

She used the example of Boko Haram and questioned what we in the western world thought we knew about this group.

“They became the Taliban of Nigeria, their Al Quaida; it made sense to use those terms we as an audience already understand; those terms are not neutral.

“Being literate about religion is critical if journalists are to write intelligently about crucial issues. We live in a world that is very diverse on issues to do with religion and unless our journalists understand the issues, then all they will talk will be the versions they know,” she added.

The Bishop of Huddersfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gibbs, told the audience that this issue was very close to Bishop Nick Baines’ heart - the Diocesan Bishop, who earlier this month took part in the All Party Parliamentary Group on Religion in the Media launched by Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton Sout East. Bishop Jonathan said this was a challenge to churches and faith communities to be better understood and better understand each other.

“We should take this away as a challenge to us, a challenge to all of us in religious leadership to better relate to each other,” he said.

Dr Jenny Taylor of Lapido Media who gained her doctorate studying the sociology of religion – including the migration of Muslims, opened the evening and new Lapido Media chairman, Nick Isbister, closed the evening with a powerful reading from neurologist, Oliver Sacks’ short reflective essays written shortly before he died on the theme of gratitude.

THE CALIPHATE – is available on Amazon. Find out more about Lapido Media www.lapidomedia.com and how you can help improve religious literacy in journalism

Churches and Cathedrals across the diocese are preparing special services and events to mark HM The Queen’s 90th birthday over the second weekend of June, 11th and 12th.  Events range from major county services for hundreds of invited guests to afternoon tea parties and floral displays.

The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire will be at  Ripon Cathedral on Sunday the 12th at 3.30pm for the county’s service of celebration. The Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines will be the preacher, and 1000 invited guests are expected to attend. The Dean of Ripon, Very Revd John Dobson, says, “At Ripon Cathedral we have been working hard with the Lord Lieutenant and his team to prepare for the celebration service. There will be seats reserved for people without tickets who arrive before 3.10pm.”

Wakefield Cathedral is planning a Royal Celebratory service of Evensong, at 5pm on June 12th, which will also combine with the Royal School of Church Music area festival and awards ceremony.The music includes Parry's "I was glad" and Handel's "Zadok the Priest" and a large congregation is expected for the service, which begins at 5pm.

Halifax Minster has planned a service for Sunday 12 June at 3pm for the Borough of Calderdale.

At Dewsbury Minster celebrations include a special Dewsbury Team service at 10.30pm on June 12th followed by the ' Right Royal Faith Lunch' to which all will be welcome.

Elsewhere across the diocese a wide variety of exhibitions and family events as well as services are being planned - here are some examples:

St Paul's, Wibsey, will hold a Family Fun Day on Saturday 11th, from 2pm to 4.30pm, with a lot of games, races, a bouncy castle, a crown competition etc., a lot of food, and a lot of fun! It will be followed with a special service for the queen's birthday on Sunday the 12th at 10.30am.

St Paul's, Manningham celebrates the Queen's birthday on 4 June from 2pm with a traditional tea party, barbeque, stalls & 'Olympic' style races for children.

St Stephen's, Steeton is celebrating 90 years of memories in flowers and photographs starting with a preview on 10 June opened by Her Majesty's Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, and continuing over 11 and 12 June. 

Holy Trinity, Meanwood celebrate both the Queen's 90th and the Leeds World Triathlon Event on 10-12 June. 

St Giles, Bramhope are having a black tie dinner on 11 June and afternoon tea with prosecco on 12 June (2pm), followed by a Celebration Service with flag waving in church. (£17.50 dinner, £7.50 afternoon tea or £22 for both. Tickets from Keith, 07920 139172). Plus a photograph display showing how St Giles has been part of the Bramhope community over the last 90 years, and a couple members of the congregation who have met the Queen will share their stories. 

Holy Trinity, Bingley with St Wilfrid's, Gilstead have a display of local history & fancy dress competition on 11 June followed by a Parish Eucharist and choirs, tea dances, sing-along and activities for children on 12 June. 

St Mary's Swillington - 11 June: Scouts’ Great Cake Bakeoff 9.30-11.30, Messy Church 3.30-5pm; 12 June: Afternoon Tea, 2-4pm

All Saints, Little Horton, Bradford will have a Garden Party on 11 June  2-4 pm with a band playing and afternoon tea, crafts,  bouncy castle, and stalls

St John's, Great Horton -  Garden Party on 12 June, 12 -3pm. Bouncy castle, wet sponge throwing, cake and crafts.

Holy Trinity, Hepworth celebrate with portraits of Her Majesty by local school children and a garden party, 1-5pm on 12 June. More here.

St Chad's, Far Headingley, 12 June, 2-6pm, formal afternoon tea in the Parish Centre, informal teas in the gardens, a barbecue and beer tent and children's games and crafts. Tickets for the formal tea can be bought at the parish centre stchadsparishcentre.org or pay on the door

St Andrew's and St Paul's Morley, have ordered the local archives from 90 years ago for people to browse as part of a series of events on 11-12 June including a Celebration Service followed by a barbecue. 

Saint Barnabas Church, Alwoodley Leeds, will be holding an Afternoon tea Party on Saturday 11th June from 2.00-4.30pm - come dressed as your favourite king or queen - Games, cake, coffee, crafts, music and fun will take place.

BELLS TOLL FROM OUR THREE CATHEDRALS TO MARK YORKSHIRE'S DARKEST DAY OF FIRST WORLD WAR

A single bell will toll from each of the three cathedrals of Bradford, Ripon and Wakefield at the exact time one hundred years ago that the first troops went over the top at the start of the Battle of the Somme.

People from across the region are invited to come and remember that darkest day in silence and prayers from 7.30am until 8am on Friday July 1. 

The three Deans of our three cathedrals  will toll a single bell at 7.30am for five minutes. This will be followed by silence for ten minutes and then a further ten minutes of prayer to remember all those who lost their lives in what was to be the bloodiest battles of the First World War.

And the Bishop of Leeds, Bishop Nick, is urging other churches to join them.

On that day alone the British Army suffered almost 58,000 casualties. Most of the Leeds Pals and the Bradford Pals, along with the scores of other “pals” regiments formed up and down the country, perished on the same day in the same hour on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The battle, which was to last until November 18, saw more than one million men wounded or killed.

The Dean of Wakefield, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener, said: “The loss of life on that day in our towns, cities and villages here in Yorkshire will never be forgotten.

“And we, the three Cathedrals, wanted to come together to mark this anniversary and pray together in thanks and in sorrow to all those men of Yorkshire who paid the ultimate price for our freedom today.

Wakefield Cathedral–  the tolling of the bell on July 1 will be followed at 10am with a civic service with a presentation by Professor Edward Spiers, Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of Leeds. This will be followed by a procession to the War Memorial to observe the silence.

Bradford  lost almost 2,000 men in the Battle of the Somme and t will hold its own civic commemoration in the Cathedral on Saturday July 9 at 3pm with the Lord Mayor and Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff.  Two exhibitions will run – Fallen: Installation artist Martin Waters will use thousands of Royal British Legion Poppies to create a moving memento to the fallen: 25 June to 30 July and Bradford and the Global War is a fascinating display including historical information from articles printed in Bradford newspapers at the time of the Great War. There will be a free talk with guided tour at 1pm every Tuesday throughout July.

Bishop Nick presented the 'Baftas' of religious broadcasting, the Sandford St Martin awards, at Lambeth Palace on Wednesday.

In his introduction, Bishop Nick, who chairs the Sandford St Martin Trust, which organises the awards, called for the BBC’s remit to include the promotion of greater religious literacy in the UK. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury, who also spoke at the event, called on the BBC to treat religion “with the same seriousness as other genres like sport, politics, economics or drama."

The winner of the TV award was a Channel 4 documentary, My Son the Jihadi, a portrait of a devastated mother who discovers her son has joined an Islamic terrorist group in Somalia, and in the Interview of the Year category, the prize went to a Things Unseen podcast featuring the mother of James Foley, the US journalist who was murdered by Islamic State.

BBC drama Call The Midwife (left) was named the religious programme of the year (voted for by Radio Times readers) for a storyline in which Sister Julienne’s faith encounters that of Christian Scientist parents who refuse life-saving antibiotics for their baby.

In recognition of her commitment to religious and ethical broadcasting over six decades, broadcaster and journalist, Baroness Joan Bakewell DBE (right), received the Sandford St Martin Trustees’ Award.

A full list of the awards can be found here.

A recent Government White Paper includes calls for the BBC to be required to reflect the “diversity” of the British Isles.

Bishop Nick said: “Religion is a prime motivator of individuals and communities, inspiring and informing their political, economic, ethical and social behaviour. So we’d like to propose an addition to the public purposes proposed by the white paper.

“In addition to ‘raising awareness of the different cultures and alternative viewpoints that make up (UK) society’ we propose that the BBC should reflect and interpret the many religious communities that exist in the UK with the aim of building a better understanding of the beliefs people hold both between those communities and by UK audiences as a whole.”

Bishop Nick also quoted AA Gill who wrote in 2014, “Religion has never been more tangible in world affairs and public life. Not having more sensible and serious religious broadcasting isn’t modern, it’s a failure to face modernity”.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, called on the BBC to treat religion “with the same seriousness as other genres like sport, politics, economics or drama.

“BBC charter renewal, and questions about the ownership of Channel 4, have focussed to some extent on the diversity of people who make up our islands and who constitute the audience of our great broadcasting institutions. But if diversity is to mean anything, it must mean more than differences in ethnicity or personal tastes... True diversity also means paying proper attention to religion.

The promotion of religious literacy should be a specific duty for the BBC across its broadcasting services.”

An abridged version of the Archbishop's speech can be found in this week's Radio Times.

Bishop Nick will be speaking on BBC local radio stations thoughout the country this Sunday (7-9am) about the call for greater prominence for religious programmes and content on BBC.

Seventy one 90 year olds who were born the same year as Her Majesty the Queen will be guests of honour at North Yorkshire’s official Queen’s Birthday service taking place this Sunday June 12th at Ripon Cathedral.

The ‘nonagenarians’ will join a congregation of hundreds who have been invited to Ripon Cathedral  for a major service to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Barry Dodd CBE, and the Dean, the Very Revd John Dobson. They include civic leaders and church leaders from across the county, along with military and community representatives.  

The preacher at the service - which begins at 3.30pm - will be the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, and music will be led by the Cathedral Choir and the 21 strong band of the Yorkshire Regiment based in Huddersfield.  In addition a piper will also play, Private Edwards of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Before the service a procession will gather at Ripon’s Market Square at 3pm  before walking to the Cathedral.  And despite hundreds of invitations being accepted, the Dean of Ripon says everyone is welcome. “Seven hundred people have accepted an invitation from the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, but we are making sure that we have a couple of hundred seats for people who just turn up.”

Dean John Dobson added, “It’s a privilege for us to be hosting the service for the whole county. People from across the whole county will be gathering here to celebrate the Queen’s  90 birthday and give thanks for her, both her length of days and her quality of days - thinking about the ways she has been dedicated to public service and through that revealed the quality of her own Christian discipleship and Christian faith which we would want to celebrate.”

The North Yorkshire service is just one of hundreds of events to celebrate the Queen’s birthday this weekend. To see what’s happening in your area go to our Royal webpage here

Tea parties, flower festivals and major civic services have been taking place at churches and cathedrals across the diocese to mark H.M. the Queen’s 90th birthday .

Seventy one, 90 year olds who were born the same year as Her Majesty the Queen were the guests of honour at North Yorkshire’s official Queen’s Birthday service held on  Sunday June 12th at Ripon Cathedral.

The ‘nonagenarians’ joined a congregation of hundreds who were invited to the cathedral  for a county wide ervice to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Barry Dodd CBE (pictured right) with his wife Frances being greeted by the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson. Guests included civic leaders and church leaders from across the county, along with military and community representatives. 

The preacher at the service was the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Revd Nick Baines, and music was led by the Cathedral Choir and the 21 strong band of the Yorkshire Regiment based in Huddersfield. (pictured left)  Before the service  a piper,  Private Edwards of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, led a procession from the Market Square to the cathedral.

Dean John said, “It’s a privilege for us to be hosting the service for the whole county to celebrate the Queen’s  90 birthday and give thanks for her, both her length of days and her quality of days - thinking about the ways she has been dedicated to public service and through that revealed the quality of her own Christian discipleship and Christian faith which we would want to celebrate.”

Wakefield Cathedral also held  a Royal Celebratory service of Evensong on June 12th, which combined  with the Royal School of Church Music area festival and awards ceremony. The music included Parry's "I was glad" and Handel's "Zadok the Priest".

Many other churches held festivals and community birthday parties for the Queen.  Pictured is St Saviour's, Harden  which celebrated the Queen's 90th birthday with afternoon tea and entertainment for 100 villagers

Pictured right, members of St John's Church, Cleckheaton, hosted a 1950s style party for the local community in honour of HM the Queen's 90th birthday. Everybody dressed up in red, white and blue, drank a toast in her honour, enjoyed patriotic entertainment by local singer, Trevor Bowers, and traditional pastimes.

Red white and blue bunting,  knitted by local ladies,  surrounded All Saints' church, Kirby Hill near Boroughbridge as well as the village green at  a Big Lunch event for 130 people. Before the lunch and games  an informal community service took place on the green  with hymns, readings with words from the Queen.  Walter, pictured left with Revd Alisoin Askew, who had his 90th birthday 3 days before the Queen talked about the momentous year in which they were born (like the Queen, he is still working). At the Big Lunch 95 year old  Olive Duck (right) who has lived in Kirby Hill all of her life, cut the cake.

St Matthew’s Church, Wilsden nr Keighley,celebrated with an exhibition of changes to church and village since 1926 and a Family Fun Day, inside and out - BBQ, games, bouncy castle and the star attraction, a bucking rodeo bull. Photo shows Vicar Bob displaying an unexpected talent.

On Sunday  celebration continued with an outdoor all-age service with guest speaker Archdeacon Andy Jolley. This was followed by a mini street party lunch organised by Rainbows and Guides.

BELLS TOLL FROM OUR THREE CATHEDRALS TO MARK YORKSHIRE'S DARKEST DAY OF FIRST WORLD WAR

A single bell will toll from each of the three cathedrals of Bradford, Ripon and Wakefield at the exact time one hundred years ago that the first troops went over the top at the start of the Battle of the Somme.
People from across the region are invited to come and remember that darkest day in silence and prayers from 7.30am until 8am on Friday July 1. 
The three Deans of our three cathedrals  will toll a single bell at 7.30am for five minutes. This will be followed by silence for ten minutes and then a further ten minutes of prayer to remember all those who lost their lives in what was to be the bloodiest battles of the First World War.

Wakefield Cathedral –  the tolling of the bell on July 1 will be followed at 10am with a civic service with a presentation by Professor Edward Spiers, Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of Leeds. This will be followed by a procession to the War Memorial to observe the silence.

Bradford Cathedral - Bradford lost almost 2,000 men in the Battle of the Somme and will hold its own civic commemoration in the Cathedral on Saturday July 9 at 3pm with the Lord Mayor and Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff.  
Two exhibitions will run – Fallen: Installation artist Martin Waters will use thousands of Royal British Legion Poppies to create a moving memento to the fallen: 25 June to 30 July and Bradford and the Global War is a fascinating display including historical information from articles printed in Bradford newspapers at the time of the Great War. There will be a free talk with guided tour at 1pm every Tuesday throughout July.

The Bishop of Leeds, Bishop Nick, is urging other churches to join them. Here are some:

St Anne's, Southowram, Halifax will be holding a commemorative time of prayer and remembrance with the tolling of the bells on 1st July. Contact: Revd Guy Jamieson. 
St Paul's, Shipley will be joining in with prayers. Contact: Revd Malcolm Hendry
St Michael’s, Shelf will be tolling the bell to mark the start of the Battle of the Somme. Contact: Revd Marion Gaskell
Bingley bellringers will ring a quarter peal at 11.00am on 1 July in commemoration. 
St Paul's Wibsey will toll the bell on Friday 1 July at 7.30am, followed by a time of silence and Lord's Prayer. A special service will also take place on Sunday 3 July at 10.30am to remember those who lost their lives during that battle and the WW1. Contact: Revd Thierry Guillemin
Dewsbury Minster will toll their tenor bell on 1 July.
Allerton Bywater and Kippax churches will toll single bells for five minutes on 1 July. Kippax are joining with the British Legion for a short service at the war memorial and the memorial will also be rededicated after it’s renovation by the Parish Council. Contact: Revd Canon Rosemarie Hayes
St Andrew’s, Slaidburn will be tolling a bell for 5 minutes at 7.30 am on Friday 1 July. 10 minutes silence will follow, and Morning Prayer said in church at 7.45 am.
St Bartholomew, Meltham in the Parish of Christ the King will toll a single bell to mark the start of the Battle of the Somme on Friday July 1 at 7.30am followed by prayers and silence.
Huddersfield Parish Church, St Peter will be tolling a bell at 7:30am ahead of it taking part in a special civic and community service held in Ravensknowle Park at 2pm.
St Stephen's, Lindley will be tolling a bell at 7.30am on 1 July 1 followed by a special morning prayer.
St Peter's Shipley will toll a bell at 7.30am followed by silence and prayer. A couple from St Peter's are travelling to Thiepal in France for the commemoration there.
St Mary-le-Ghyll, Barnoldswick will toll a bell at 7.30am follwed by silence and prayer. Revd Diane Weaver, Vicar of Barnoldswick with Bracewell and Royal British Legion Chaplain together with Revd Hugh Fielden, Vicar of Earby will also lead a short service at Sough Park War Memorial at 10.45am and then at Salterforth War Memorial at 11.45am. Contact: Revd Diane Weaver.

Settle Church will toll its bell on July 1st 

St Mary's Middleton will toll the bell and open its doors all day for prayers and silence. The vicar, Revd Andy Myers  wants any memorabilia from any war to form a display in church. You can email him at Andy_myers1@sky.com. Andy's paternal grandfather served and survived the Somme - read more on this story here http://www.westyorkshiredales.anglican.org/content/east-leeds-vicar-and-battle-somme

Bishop Nick has opened the new £11.5m state-of-the-art exhibition hall at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

It's the largest single-span space in the North of England - the size of 3.5 Olympic swimming pools - and is the largest project in the 180-year history of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

Nigel Pulling, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, says, "Our new hall captures the essence of the Society – innovative and practical, and we’re thrilled with the result of all the hard work.”

Bishop Nick said the hall “fitted perfectly” within its surroundings on the 250-acre showground: “Not only is it unique, it is also ambitious and it shows something about Yorkshire: that we want to aim high. It is a fabulous building.”

The society’s deputy chief executive Heather Parry, who said,“Our new hall demonstrates our commitment to the farming community, to our existing and future customers, and is a positive contribution to the Yorkshire economy,”

To showcase its versatility in staging different events it was filled for the opening with an exhibition of luxury cars, a dinner set-up for 400, conference seating and even a funfair dodgems ride (and a table tennis table - see below right).

Hall 1 has a 36m glass front elevation, and replaces the original 1960s building. As well as the main exhibition space, it includes a café, large foyer, workshop space and offices.

Prayers are being offered and vigils held in churches across Wakefield and Huddersfield for Batley and Spen MP, Jo Cox who died after being shot and stabbed outside her constituency advice surgery in Birstall.

Over 300 people packed the pews in St Peter's Birstall for a vigil last night (Thurs) that was attended by Bishop Nick and Bishop Jonathan who said people had been left “overwhelmed by shock, grief and a sense of loss”.

Bishop Jonathan, the Bishop of Huddersfield continued: “We are here for each other and I know and I hope and I pray that we will be here for each other in the days ahead.”

Local MPs, Yvette Cooper, Mary Creagh , Nas Shah, Rachel Reeves, Caroline Flint and Dan Jarvis were all there to pay their respects to the Batley and Spen MP and earlier, the Wakefield Labour MP, Mary Creagh had told reporters that Jo died doing a job she loved in a constituency she loved.

Jonathan Rhodes, bellringer at St Peter's, lowered the flag to half mast at St Peter's Church during the vigil.

Prayers were also said at Wakefield Cathedral, Halifax Minster and All Saints Church in Batley and yesterday the Church of England tweeted a prayer for Jo.

A touching image of a single candle has now been posted on Batley All Saints Church’s Twitter account with the hashtag #PrayForJoCox. Batley All Saints will open its doors from 10am (Fri) with a book of condolence and an opportunity to light a candle. Birstall St Peter's will also be open all day Fri. 

Roberttown Church opened following the tragic incident and by evening saw many people through the doors. The vicar, the Revd Richard Burge said:  "I have been particularly struck by the number of children who have brought their parents. Many have known Jo through school visits or Brownies or Scouts - she made a big impression wherever she went."

Roberttown Church will be open again Friday (17th) 2.30-5.30pm and there will be a special service for Jo held there this Sunday at 6pm.

Last night, the vicar of St Peter's, the Revd Paul Knight said the vigil was to remember 'everything Jo Cox did for our community'.

Jo Cox, 41 was married with two young children. A former Heckmondwike Grammar school girl,  gained her seat in last year’s elections with a 6,000-plus majority for Labour – 43 per cent of the vote. She was a former Oxfam activist and had a heart for the dispossessed and the disadvantaged.

Earlier Bishop Jonathan had led prayers and a sermon at Halifax Minster and during the afternoon both he and Bishop Nick expressed their sympathy and distress at the terrible news on the local media.

Wakefield Cathedral’s new canon precentor, the Revd Leah Vasey Saunders led prayers for all victims of gun crime but especially for Jo Cox at  the city's Evensong and a book of condolence has been opened inside the Cathedral. More vigils are planned across the Wakefield and Huddersfield Episcopal Areas over the coming days.

A book of condolence will be opened in memory of Jo in S Helen's Hemsworth on Saturday during the annual craft fair which runs from 10 til 1pm.

At St Mary's, Gomersal, the vicar, the Revd Karen Nicholl, lit a candle in church and posted a photo of it on the church facebook page to help people reflect and remember Jo with the words: The light shines in the darkness, the darkness will not overcome it. 

YOU CAN JOIN THEM:

Batley All Saints Church open all day for prayer and to light a candle

St Peter's Birstall will be open for prayer and to light a candle

Prayers at St John's Cleckheaton  (fri 17th) 9.30-12noon

Roberttown All Saints is open (Fri 17th) 2.30-5.30pm and a service will be held to remember Jo at 6pm on Sunday 

There will be prayers at Ripon Cathedral (Fri) too.

Kirklees Council and partners will be holding a multi faith time for reflection in Batley Town Square at 5pm this evening (Fri) in memory of Jo Cox MP.

 Vigil service for Jo at St Paul's, Birkenshaw tonight (FRI) at 7pm to which everyone is welcome.

And there will be a memorial service to Jo Cox at 7pm tonight (Fri) at the Indian Muslim Welfare Society (IMWS), Al Hikmah Centre, Track Road, Batley. All are welcome.

 The Kirklees Faith forum - which represents all the main faith groups in Kirklees - issued a statement on behalf of all faiths:

It said: Members of all our faith communities are deeply shocked by the dreadful murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox.  We utterly condemn this terrible act of violence.  Jo Cox dedicated her life to serving the people of our communities and to working for a fairer world for all.  Our hearts go out to her family and friends, for whom each of us will be praying earnestly in the days ahead.  We dedicate ourselves to doing all we can to honour her memory and to bring people together across our communities at this very sad time. The council issued an open invitation for people to join them in an organised multifaith reflection time in Batley Town Square with a message saying: 

Jo Cox  was much loved by Councillors, Officers and our residents. Her passion for people and politics shone and we will miss the light she brought to us all.

In Cleckheaton, St John's Church welcomed a steady stream of people during Friday morning all paying tribute to their much loved MP and "local girl" Jo Cox. 
Most of those who attended the service were young mums and their children. 

The Vicar of Cleckheaton, Brunel James, said:  "There are a lot of people seeing this murder as an attack on women, and an attempt to silence bright young women and take away their right to be heard. But what Jo taught us is we should never be afraid, we should never hide away, and we should always fight to be heard whoever or wherever we are.

"Let us learn from this to carry on Jo's legacy for all the people she loved and who loved her," he added.

During the service, people wrote messages to Jo: here are some of them:

A fresh chapter of church life is beginning in Keighley as a new single Church of England parish has been created from the historic parishes of St Mark, Utley, St Barnabas, Thwaites Brow, All Saints Keighley and St Andrew Keighley. It came into effect at the end of May and the appointment of new Team Rector, Revd Mike Cansdale (right), has just been announced.

Bishop Nick says, “The vision behind this United Parish for Keighley is bold and innovative, enabling the churches to have a greater impact on the town.”

The ministry team will consist of three full-time Anglican clergy, two Methodist Ministers and an array of paid staff, self supporting clergy and many volunteers.

The parish church of St Andrew’s stands at the heart of the town centre and is already widely used for serving the local community. The recent ‘Festival of Life’, for example, organised by Keighley Churches Together to be a sign of blessing and good news to the town, welcomed thousands of people for a free barbeque, live music, children’s crafts and activities.

The Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford, says, “There is a sense of unity across diverse congregations in Keighley and a shared vision that places engagement with the local communities at the heart of everything. This is an exciting time for Keighley and I am delighted at the appointment of the Revd Mike Cansdale to lead the team.”

There’ll be a day of celebration for the new parish, including the induction of the new Team Rector, on Saturday 17 September. For the past seven years Mike has been vicar in the neighbouring parishes of Morton and Riddlesden and he knows the area well.

Mike says, “There are lots of great things already happening in Keighley and I am excited to be joining the team as this new United Parish comes into being.  I have a real heart for the town and look forward to working with all of the churches, to form the vision for what it means to be God's people in Keighley and to bring the good news of Jesus to our communities.”

The Archdeacon of Bradford, the Venerable Andy Jolley, says, “It’s been great to work with the Parish Reps who have done the parish a great service by their work in appointing Mike. The next great phase for the Church in Keighley can begin!”

Twenty four men and women begin ministry as deacons in parish churches across the diocese this July, following two packed services held at the weekend in Wakefield Cathedral. They include a former GP, a headteacher, a magistrate, and a former telecomms trainer.  

The services were held at 'Pertertide'- July 2nd. In the morning service, nine men and women who will serve as curates in the Leeds and Wakefield Episcopal Areas were ordained . Later, at 3pm, a second service was held for the fifteen men and women who will serve as deacons in parishes in Ripon, Huddersfield and Bradford Episcopal Areas.

Two services were needed to allow space for the many family, friends and supporters of the ordinands to attend – even then ticket numbers had to be limited.

An ‘ember’ card has been produced to encourage the diocese to continue to pray for those who have started ordained ministry – click here to download.

Leading the service was the Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines while the preacher at both events was the Revd Canon Charlotte Methuen.

Within the Church of England there are three stages of ordained ministry: deacons, priests and bishops. Following training at theological college, newly ordained deacons are appointed to a three to four year post of curate, for training alongside an experienced vicar. After one year, deacons are ordained priest.

(Below left- ordinands with Bishop Nick at the 11am service - right, ordinands with Bishop Nick following the 3pm service, both outside Wakefield Cathewdral)

To serve in the Ripon Area

	Julie Clarkson	Julie will serve her curacy in the United Benefice of Barnoldswick with Bracewell. Prior to her training on the Yorkshire Ministry Course, she was a Reader and worship leader in the Beeston parish, Leeds. Julie is married to Chris and they have two grown up children and five grandchildren. She has worked in the telecommunications industry as a trainer for the past 15 years. Julie enjoys travelling, reading and spending time with her grandchildren.
	Ruth Donegan-Cross	Ruth Donegan-Cross will serve in the parish of St John’s and St Luke’s, Bilton in Harrogate after training for ordination with the Yorkshire Ministry Course. Ruth is married to Guy, who is Vicar of a neighbouring church, and they have 4 children, John (20), Hamish (18), Toby (17) and Anna (14) plus a recently arrived puppy, Bess.  Prior to ordination she was Chaplain at Harrogate Ladies’ College. She loves films, novels, cooking and all things creative.
	Stephen Hanscombe	Stephen Hanscombe will serve in the Benefice of Bedale after training for ordination on the Yorkshire Ministry Course where he read for a B.A.  As a Self-Supporting Minister, Stephen will continue to work part-time as Co-Headteacher of Mill Hill Primary School in Northallerton.  He has worked in education for thirty years and has always felt this to be his original vocation.  Stephen earned a Choral Scholarship at Bishop Grosseteste College in Lincoln where he sang in the Cathedral Choir. Following ordination he is looking forward to combining his two vocations and continuing to hear God’s call.  Most of his spare time is spent walking his Labrador, Poppy.  Stephen also enjoys reading, singing, travelling and gardening and is cultivating a new interest in growing vegetables.
	Alex Ladds	Alex Ladds will serve in the parish of Broughton, Marton and Thornton and as School Chaplain at Giggleswick in North Yorkshire after training for ordination with the Lancaster and Cumbria Theological Partnership where he read for a Diploma in Theology.  Alex is married to Louise and they have two children, Isaac, aged 15 and Joseph aged 14. Prior to ordination Alex was a Teacher and Lay Chaplain at Giggleswick School.  Alex’s hobbies include fell-walking, long distance running (Completed the UTMB CCC 2014), swimming, rugby football, sport and clay pigeon shooting climbing, orienteering, cricket, athletics and self-defence. I enjoy reading, crosswords and visiting national trust properties.
	Stroma McDermott	Stroma McDermott will serve in the parish of Wetherby with Linton after training for ordination at Yorkshire Ministry Course where she read for an MA.  Stroma is married to Damian and they have three children (Eleanor, 18 years; Christian, 15 years and Cosmo 10 years). Prior to ordination Stroma worked as a Principal Auditor for 16 years with the Audit Commission, performing financial and governance audits across West and North Yorkshire for Local Government and Health Bodies before undertaking a Theology degree at York St John University  (thoroughly recommended!) where she went on to become the Chaplaincy Administrator.  As a contextual placement student she has had placements with Leeds Church Institute and the Church of the Epiphany, Gipton in Leeds. Stroma is a massive Elvis fan and loves music, going to concerts, the theatre, cinema and dance and things involving wine. She has recently taken up running, which she is slowly learning to dislike less!
	Tim Madeley	Tim Madeley will serve in the Ingleborough Team Ministry, based primarily at St John the Baptist, Low Bentham after training for ordination at Ridley Hall Cambridge, where he read for a BA. Prior to ordination, Tim worked in Employment Law after completing a masters at Law School in Leeds. Before beginning training for ordination, he spent a year as a Pastoral Worker at HMS Drake, Plymouth, working with the Royal Naval Chaplaincy Service and employed by the charity known as Aggie Weston’s. He is very keen on cycling, having ridden a few sportives (organised cycle rides) and been an avid watcher of the Tour de France since 1994. He recently trained for and ran the Cambridge Half Marathon for Christian Aid. He is keen to keep up the running and cycling after ordination. Other interests include playing the guitar, watching films and playing computer games.

To serve in the Bradford area

	Robert Johnson	Robert will serve in the parishes of St James the Great, Woodhall and St Margaret’s, Thornbury after training for ordination at The Yorkshire Ministry Course, Mirfield.  Robert is married to Lynne and they have three grown up daughters, Sarah, Rebecca, and Heather.  Their son Thomas still lives at home.  Prior to ordination Robert was a Reader in the historic diocese of Bradford and he will continue to work fulltime in his pastoral role at Parkside School, Cullingworth. Robert’s hobbies include supporting Bradford City, singing with two choirs, fishing, listening to music and reading.
	Anthony Laotan	Anthony Olanrewaju Laotan will serve in the parish of Holy Trinity Church, Idle, Bradford after training for ordination at the Yorkshire Ministry Course, Mirfield where he read for a BA. Originally from Nigeria, the most populous black country in the world, Anthony considers himself a 'Northern Lad' having lived north of England since his coming over to the UK 14 years ago. He is married to Amaka (means Beautiful) and they have three children (Jemima 10, Jasmine 7 and Joshua 5). Prior to ordination, he was a Reader in the then Ripon and Leeds diocese (now WYAD) and has worked as a Youth worker with various faith and mainstream organizations, the most recent being the Salvation Army/ SPACE initiative and St Luke's Church, Holbeck. Anthony is a passionate 'Match of the day' viewer (hopefully will get the football boots back on again and hopes Leicester wins the EPL for a change), loves Chinese food (takeaway or buffet), visiting new places and dancing to afro-gospel tunes.
	Sue McWhinney	Sue will serve in the parish of St John the Evangelist, Baildon, after training for 3 years on Yorkshire Ministry Course at Mirfield where she read for a BA (Sheffield) in Theological Studies. Sue has been married to Paul for 32 years, and they have two children, James, a Durham graduate now working for an engineering consultancy in Warrington, and Sarah, a Fine Art student at Glasgow School of Art. Sue was a GP principal near York before the family moved to Bradford in 2000, when Paul took up his post as a consultant physician at Bradford Royal Infirmary. In recent years Sue has been heavily involved in the life of her sending church, Bradford Cathedral, and she enjoys walking in the Dales and Northumberland with Paul, live music of all varieties (from early music to Scottish/Irish folk), theatre and visiting art galleries. However she draws the line at participating in the family passion for caving!
	Nathanael Poole	Nathanael will serve in the parish of St Johns, Great Horton, after training for ordination at Cranmer Hall, Durham, where he read for a BA. Nathanael married Lauren in the summer of 2015. Before training for ministry Nathanael worked with a fresh expression of church meeting in the city centre of Wolverhampton, where he was involved in coordinating worship and young peoples discipleship. Nathanael enjoys cycling, going to the gym, reading, cooking, playing guitar, and regular trips to the cinema.
	Tim Roberts	Tim Roberts will serve in the parish of St. John the Baptist, Clayton after training for ordination at St. John’s, Nottingham where he read for a MTh. Tim is married to Emma and they have three boys called Joshua (7), Jamie (4) and Isaac (2). Prior to ordination he did a gap year at St. Marks, Utley which turned into a ‘gap-decade’ as he became the ‘church and community youthworker’ in which time he also got his youthwork and ministry degree. Tim loved his time at St. Marks and has spent the three years at college learning to embrace his new call to ordained ministry and is excited about serving in Clayton despite still coming to terms with ‘vicar clothes’. Tim enjoys spending time with Emma, being with friends, playing 5-a-side football, supporting Liverpool FC and being a climbing frame for his boys!

For the Huddersfield Area

	Steven Harvey	Steven will serve his title post in the parish of Holy Trinity, Huddersfield, after training for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, where he read for an MTh in Applied Theology.  Prior to ordination, Steven served as a pastoral assistant to a group of churches in the Holme Valley.  Before that he was a theological student in Durham for a number of years, where he met his wife, Angela, a native of Texas.  He hopes to continue his studies by researching two of his favourite things: the Old Testament and preaching.  Steven and Angela have two young children (Jedidiah, 3, and Talitha, 1) who keep them on their toes.  When not chasing them around, Steven enjoys reading, writing and playing board games with friends.  Risk, anyone?!
	Simon Scott	Simon Scott will serve as a Self-Supporting Minister at Halifax Minster after training for ordination on the Yorkshire Ministry Course. Simon has a background in music and lives with his partner Peter on the hills above Halifax along with their Dalmatian – Bertie! Prior to ordination Simon has been the Reader at St Luke’s Norland for six years. Simon will continue to work as a primary Head Teacher after ordination and his hobbies include Model Railways and tinkering about with his 1953 Morris Oxford MO (or if he’s honest, ‘supervising’ other people’s tinkering)! Simon is very excited about joining the Minster team and looking forward to a fantastic Curacy there!
	Cindy Sheard	My name is Cindy Sheard, I am married to Alan and we have 4 daughters.  My journey towards ordination began some 20 years ago when I felt God calling me into something (not quite sure what at that time!).  I began attending my local church in Gomersal …  The calling remained over the years as I spent time as a stay at home mum, embarked upon a degree and other study and trained as a Lay Reader as I tried to discern what God was calling me to.  Eventually, I ended up working in my local Church Primary School and found the courage and confidence to answer God’s call on my life.  I am looking forward to continuing my journey of faith and living out God’s call as I serve a curacy (as a Non-Stipendiary Minister) at St Peter’s, Birstall with the Rev’d Captain Paul Knight.
	Andrew Steer	After studying at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, for a Diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission, Andrew will serve in the parish of All Hallows, Almondbury with Farnley Tyas. Married to Jennifer, a Staff Nurse, they have two adult children – Jessica, a primary school teacher and Rachel, who has just begun teaching English in Japan. Andrew was a midwife in Leeds for 25 years, where he held various roles which included lecturing, management and also as a Supervisor of Midwives. Jennifer and Andrew served as Church Warden’s at St. John’s, Yeadon, where their faith was re-ignited and they discerned God’s call afresh. Andrew has a keen interest in the outdoors, particularly mountain and fell walking, where he is able to find a greater sense of God’s presence. He also enjoys cycling, ornithology, real ales and both folk and world music. He particularly enjoys Tuvan throat singing, but it’s best not to ask about that!

Being ordained at Wakefield Cathedral, 11am, July 2nd

For the Leeds Area

	Alison Battye	Alison Battye will serve in the parish of St Mary’s Whitkirk after training for ordination with the Yorkshire Ministry Course. She is married to Peter and they have two grown up children. On moving to Leeds in 1987 she worked as a secondary science teacher. After a few years as a full time Mum she then became a primary school teacher. She has also enjoyed working with children in church and as a beaver scout leader. In her spare time she enjoys hiking (mostly with family), singing and flute playing (with friends) and running (mainly alone).
	Sonia Kasibante	Sonia will serve at Epiphany Gipton and Oakwood churches after training for ordination with the Yorkshire Ministry Course at Mirfield where she read for a BA in Theological Studies with Sheffield University.  Sonia is married to Amos who is parish priest of St Agnes Burmantofts and St Cyprian’s Harehills and they have a daughter, Miriam, currently at university in Uganda.  Sonia was born and brought up in Guyana, and moved to the UK over 20 years ago.  She has a BSc in IT and Computing from the Open University and has worked in a number of administrative roles, including being church administrator at St Agnes’.  She has also served as a volunteer management committee member and chair of the Ebor Gardens Advice Centre which gives free debt and money advice.  Hobbies include visiting gardens, walking, going for drives in the countryside, reading, TV Documentaries (natural world, culture, current affairs), and listening to a variety of music
	Jimmy Lawrence	Jimmy Lawrence will serve the parish of All Saints, Otley after training for ordination at St. Barnabas Theological College where he read for a BA. Jimmy is supported by parents Barbara and Robin, his girlfriend Hannah, his brother and two sisters. Jimmy’s first degree at Leeds University was in Music where studied as a singer and choral conductor. He spent time working at Coventry Cathedral as a Pastoral Assistant during which time he locked himself in an outdoor cage, for a week, as a way of talking to people about how Jesus can set them free. Some of Jimmy’s loves include; excellent coffee, his ever growing library and cooking.
	Hannah Lievesley	Hannah Lievesley will serve in the parish of Farsley, Leeds, after training for ordination at St John’s School of Mission (formerly St John’s College, Nottingham) where she read Theology, Mission and Ministry for a Diploma in Higher Education. Hannah is married to Jason, who works in I.T., and they have two children (Alice, 14 and Isaac, 12).  Prior to ordination, Hannah worked in Higher Education administration, most recently as the Student Funding Manager at the University of Leeds. She loves the outdoors and especially enjoys getting out into green spaces with the family dog, Mia. Holidays are usually spent under canvas, around the Dales and Northumberland. Hannah studied English Literature for her first degree and has retained her love of reading and passed it onto her daughter. More recently, at college, she has re-discovered the pool-playing and card-sharp skills she developed during her teenage years. She remains unbeaten at snap.

For the Wakefield Area

	Angela Brownridge	Angela will serve her curacy in the parish of Holy Cross, Airedale with Fryston.  She trained for ordination on the Yorkshire Ministry Course at Mirfield, prior to training/ordination Angela was a Lay Pastoral Minister for 13 years.  She works for Wakefield Council in a Main Branch Library, and sees this as an important part of her ministry.  Angela is married to Darren who is a keen motor cyclist, and they have ridden  in the UK, Europe and the USA.   Angela and Darren have two children Hannah aged 26 and Joseph aged 24.  Angela likes spending time with her family and friends and finds reading and fell walking enjoyable.  She is looking forward to serving as a curate in Airedale.
	John Fisher	John will serve in the parish of Darton, Staincross and Mapplewell after training for ordination at the Yorkshire Ministry Course, Mirfield where he read for a BA.  John is married to Maureen and they have two sons Luke 25 and Matthew 23.  Prior to ordination he worked for Environmental Health and prior to that within the mining industry. He has also worked within the community as a Local Magistrate and as a Scout Leader in Pontefract. His extensive voluntary work has earned him the award “Making a difference” from the local authority. John’s hobbies include: Scouting which has taken him all over the world and helped him build up an interesting international scouting portfolio: Hiking, he has enjoyed running an informal local hiking group: Kayaking, John and his family especially enjoy the waters of the Lake District such as Derwent Water and Coniston. His big passion however is motorbikes and motorbike racing and he keenly follows the MotoGP visiting many circuits both here in the UK and overseas.
	Kate Reynolds	Kate Reynolds will serve her curacy in the parish of St Mary the Virgin, South Elmsall, after training for ordination at Yorkshire Ministry Course in Mirfield, where she studied for a Foundation Degree in Theology. Kate is married to Kevin and they have three children and five grandchildren.  She is to be ordained a self-supporting minister and will continue working as a support worker for The Saviour Trust, and as a Christian Schools Worker in her home parish of All Saints’ Pontefract.  Kate is a fan of theatre, cinema, live music and also enjoys cooking.
	Lucy Savage	Lucy will serve in the parish of Ossett and Gawthorpe after training for ordination at St. John's School of Mission where she read for a BA in Theology for Ministry.  Lucy is a single Ordinand, daughter of Jenny and Edwin Savage and sister to Robert,  Judith, Matthew and their respective partners.  She enjoys spending time with her 6 nephews and nieces who she is immensely proud of.  Prior to ordination she read for a BA Hons in Music at The University of Nottingham, worked 2 years as Parish Assistant for The Benefice of Fulbourn and the Wilbrahams in Cambridgeshire, and spent 3 months with her sister's family in New Zealand.  In addition to New Zealand, Lucy has trekked to Base Camp of Everest in Nepal and visited our Diocesan links in The Sudan as a placement with college.  Other hobbies include singing, Irish dancing, socialising with friends, knitting and sewing.
	Tim Stevens	Tim will serve at Wakefield Cathedral, after training for ordination on the Yorkshire Ministry Course where he read for an MA in Liturgy.  Tim is married to Jolene and they have two children, William aged 3 and Bethany aged 1.   Prior to ordination he was an organist in Headingley for over ten years, where he was also involved in work with students.  He has worked in retail for fifteen years, most recently for Asda where he has been based in their head office in Leeds for the last 4 years.  Tim likes to spend as much time as possible enjoying his family, who like to join him in walking trips (although some of them get carried more than they walk!), and is currently exploring as many railways as possible with his son and as many parks and zoos as possible with his daughter.  Tim also enjoys music, both playing and listening, and demonstrates an eclectic taste.

Canon John Clayton is thought to be unique in the Church of England as he is celebrating his 105th birthday as well as 80 years of ordained ministry.

Bishop Nick led a special service at St Giles’ Bramhope in Leeds. He said, “Canon John Clayton has had an extraordinarily long and faithful ministry, and I imagine this will be the one and only time I conduct such a service.  

“The dates are all remarkable – he was born in Leeds in 1911, so he was five when the Battle of the Somme took place. He was ordained before the Beatles were born, and he had retired before I left school.”

Vicar of St Giles, the Revd Janice Smith (left), says, “What an inspiration Canon Clayton is. He is a hugely valued member of St Giles, and until the age of 100 was still actively involved in church services, preaching and leading Holy Communion.

“The church was full  for his service, and people came from far and wide, including Otley from where he retired in 1976. One lady said he’d married her and her husband there 55 years ago!”

Canon John says, “I have loved working for the church, and I’ve never been bored - people are very interesting, occasionally a little naughty and more often than not very lovable.”

He says one of the things he’s most proud of is being involved in the installation of the first cross on Otley Chevin. In 1968, wanting to raise awareness of the Easter message, a group of churches erected a 32ft high cross on Otley Chevin, and the tradition has continued ever since.

He adds, “I was part of a group who helped get the project off the ground and I was privileged to preach the sermon on that first Easter. Some people didn’t think it would work, but more than 200 came the first time we hauled it up and, nearly 50 years later, they’re still going today, offering a sign of hope over the town each year. It shows that sometimes if you take a bit of a risk it pays off.”

A party was held after the service, with photos going back to John Clayton’s childhood, and he was keen to blow out the candles on the cake himself.

Canon John Clayton studied at Leeds University and Wells Theological College.
He was ordained at Wakefield Cathedral in 1935 and served his first curacy at St John the Evangelist, Dewsbury Moor.

Celebrate 5 is the name for five big events being held in each episcopal area this autumn to celebrate and encourage church growth.

Robin Gamble, Bishop's Adviser for Church Growth, says, “Celebrate 5 will be both a ‘coming together’ for each episcopal area and it will help build an emerging culture of growth in every church."

Each event will include traditional and contemporary worship, a sermon from the area bishop, examples of local growing churches, a prayer installation and litany for growth and a final 'take away' challenge to each PCC.

Robin adds, “We hope that every church will send along clergy and lay leaders plus two or three young people (teenagers and young adults).

"Please come and support your area, and help build a culture of growth in the diocese.”

The Celebrate 5 dates are:

17 September          7.30pm         Halifax Minster
24 September          7.30pm         Bradford Cathedral
1 October                   10am         Ripon Cathedral
8  October 8            2.30pm         Leeds Minster
1 November            7.30pm          Wakefield Cathedral
  

Churches in the former Bradford diocese have enjoyed a link with the Lutheran Church in the City of Erfurt, former GDR, since the 1990’s. Now there are two further opportunities to take part in visits to the city – for the Kirchentag in May 2017, or on a visit with Bishop Nick Baines this coming October.

The opportunities follow a recent visit in June by Mrs Ros Beeson, Revd David Houlton and Revd Mike Cansdale. The group stayed in the cloisters of an Augustinian Abbey where Martin Luther studied as a monk.

Rev Mike Cansdale said, “This was my first visit to Erfurt. Not only is it a beautiful and historic city but it was great to see the ways in which the churches are engaging with contemporary issues. For example, we saw how they have developed language courses and advice centres for Syrian refugees and we joined one evening with a congregation who had opened their church hall for an Ifthar (Muslim breaking of the Fast during Ramadan) attended by more than a hundred people.”

Bishop Nick will be preaching at a special service when he visits at the end of October 2016, marking the start of a year of Celebration. October 31st is an important date in the Lutheran Calendar as it was on this day 1517 that Luther reputedly nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenberg Schlosskirche. This act is widely regarded as the start of the Reformation and 2017 marks the 500th Anniversary.

With the EU Referendum result, it is felt that the link will be just as important, if not more so in the future.  Revd David Houlton said: “In some ways this makes our relationship with the church in Erfurt even more important as our country seeks to work out our new place in Europe but outside the EU.”

In May 2017 there will be a huge event, the Kirchentag, taking place across a number of cities including Erfurt and it is hoped to take a large group from the diocese to experience the celebration.

If you would like to find out more about the Link or would be interested in joining one of the visits, please get in touch with members of the committee.

More about the Erfurt Link on the Overseas web pages here 

October 28th to November 1st 2016 - Visit to Erfurt with Bishop Nick Baines

May 24th to May 28th 2017 – Kirchentag visit to Berlin, Erfurt and Wittenberg

Contact details:

Revd Mike Cansdale (Chair)         Email: michael.cansdale@gmail.com

Mrs Ros Beeson (Vice Chair)        Email: rosalind.beeson@btinternet.com

Bishop Nick has opened the new £11.5m state-of-the-art exhibition hall at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

It's the largest single-span space in the North of England - the size of 3.5 Olympic swimming pools - and is the largest project in the 180-year history of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

Nigel Pulling, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, says, "Our new hall captures the essence of the Society – innovative and practical, and we’re thrilled with the result of all the hard work.”

Bishop Nick said the hall “fitted perfectly” within its surroundings on the 250-acre showground: “Not only is it unique, it is also ambitious and it shows something about Yorkshire: that we want to aim high. It is a fabulous building.”

The society’s deputy chief executive Heather Parry, who said,“Our new hall demonstrates our commitment to the farming community, to our existing and future customers, and is a positive contribution to the Yorkshire economy,”

To showcase its versatility in staging different events it was filled for the opening with an exhibition of luxury cars, a dinner set-up for 400, conference seating and even a funfair dodgems ride (and a table tennis table - see below right).

Hall 1 has a 36m glass front elevation, and replaces the original 1960s building. As well as the main exhibition space, it includes a café, large foyer, workshop space and offices.

Prayers have been offered and vigils held in churches across Wakefield and Huddersfield for Batley and Spen MP, Jo Cox who died after being shot and stabbed outside her constituency advice surgery in Birstall.

Over 300 people packed the pews in St Peter's Birstall for a vigil that was attended by Bishop Nick and Bishop Jonathan who said people had been left “overwhelmed by shock, grief and a sense of loss”.

Bishop Jonathan, the Bishop of Huddersfield continued: “We are here for each other and I know and I hope and I pray that we will be here for each other in the days ahead.”

Local MPs, Yvette Cooper, Mary Creagh , Nas Shah, Rachel Reeves, Caroline Flint and Dan Jarvis were all there to pay their respects to the Batley and Spen MP and earlier, the Wakefield Labour MP, Mary Creagh had told reporters that Jo died doing a job she loved in a constituency she loved.

Jonathan Rhodes, bellringer at St Peter's, lowered the flag to half mast at St Peter's Church during the vigil.

More than three hundred people gathered at a special service at Huddersfield Parish Church .  Read more here 

The service was for the three Kirklees MPs – Colne Valley’s, Jason McCartney, Dewsbury’s Paula Sherriff and Huddersfield’s  Barry Sheerman to come together to remember Jo and each spoke candidly of their former colleague before giving readings from Psalm 142 and Jeremiah 9:10 and 31:15

Prayers were also said at Wakefield Cathedral, Halifax Minster and All Saints Church in Batley and yesterday the Church of England tweeted a prayer for Jo.

A touching image of a single candle has now been posted on Batley All Saints Church’s Twitter account with the hashtag #PrayForJoCox. Batley All Saints opened its doors with a book of condolence and an opportunity to light a candle. 

Roberttown Church opened following the tragic incident and by evening saw many people through the doors. The vicar, the Revd Richard Burge said:  "I have been particularly struck by the number of children who have brought their parents. Many have known Jo through school visits or Brownies or Scouts - she made a big impression wherever she went."

The vicar of St Peter's, the Revd Paul Knight said the vigil was to remember 'everything Jo Cox did for our community'.

Jo Cox, 41 was married with two young children. A former Heckmondwike Grammar school girl,  gained her seat in last year’s elections with a 6,000-plus majority for Labour – 43 per cent of the vote. She was a former Oxfam activist and had a heart for the dispossessed and the disadvantaged.

Earlier Bishop Jonathan had led prayers and a sermon at Halifax Minster and during the afternoon both he and Bishop Nick expressed their sympathy and distress at the terrible news on the local media.

Wakefield Cathedral’s new canon precentor, the Revd Leah Vasey Saunders led prayers for all victims of gun crime but especially for Jo Cox at  the city's Evensong and a book of condolence has been opened inside the Cathedral. More vigils are planned across the Wakefield and Huddersfield Episcopal Areas over the coming days.

A book of condolence was opened in memory of Jo in St. Helen's Hemsworth.

At St Mary's, Gomersal, the vicar, the Revd Karen Nicholl, lit a candle in church and posted a photo of it on the church facebook page to help people reflect and remember Jo with the words: The light shines in the darkness, the darkness will not overcome it. 

 The Kirklees Faith forum - which represents all the main faith groups in Kirklees - issued a statement on behalf of all faiths:

It said: Members of all our faith communities are deeply shocked by the dreadful murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox.  We utterly condemn this terrible act of violence.  Jo Cox dedicated her life to serving the people of our communities and to working for a fairer world for all.  Our hearts go out to her family and friends, for whom each of us will be praying earnestly in the days ahead.  We dedicate ourselves to doing all we can to honour her memory and to bring people together across our communities at this very sad time. The council issued an open invitation for people to join them in an organised multifaith reflection time in Batley Town Square with a message saying: 

Jo Cox  was much loved by Councillors, Officers and our residents. Her passion for people and politics shone and we will miss the light she brought to us all.

In Cleckheaton, St John's Church welcomed a steady stream of people during Friday morning all paying tribute to their much loved MP and "local girl" Jo Cox. 
Most of those who attended the service were young mums and their children. 

The Vicar of Cleckheaton, Brunel James, said:  "There are a lot of people seeing this murder as an attack on women, and an attempt to silence bright young women and take away their right to be heard. But what Jo taught us is we should never be afraid, we should never hide away, and we should always fight to be heard whoever or wherever we are.

"Let us learn from this to carry on Jo's legacy for all the people she loved and who loved her," he added.

During the service, people wrote messages to Jo: here are some of them:

A fresh chapter of church life is beginning in Keighley as a new single Church of England parish has been created from the historic parishes of St Mark, Utley, St Barnabas, Thwaites Brow, All Saints Keighley and St Andrew Keighley. It came into effect at the end of May and the appointment of new Team Rector, Revd Mike Cansdale (right), has just been announced.

Bishop Nick says, “The vision behind this United Parish for Keighley is bold and innovative, enabling the churches to have a greater impact on the town.”

The ministry team will consist of three full-time Anglican clergy, two Methodist Ministers and an array of paid staff, self supporting clergy and many volunteers.

The parish church of St Andrew’s stands at the heart of the town centre and is already widely used for serving the local community. The recent ‘Festival of Life’, for example, organised by Keighley Churches Together to be a sign of blessing and good news to the town, welcomed thousands of people for a free barbeque, live music, children’s crafts and activities.

The Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford, says, “There is a sense of unity across diverse congregations in Keighley and a shared vision that places engagement with the local communities at the heart of everything. This is an exciting time for Keighley and I am delighted at the appointment of the Revd Mike Cansdale to lead the team.”

There’ll be a day of celebration for the new parish, including the induction of the new Team Rector, on Saturday 17 September. For the past seven years Mike has been vicar in the neighbouring parishes of Morton and Riddlesden and he knows the area well.

Mike says, “There are lots of great things already happening in Keighley and I am excited to be joining the team as this new United Parish comes into being.  I have a real heart for the town and look forward to working with all of the churches, to form the vision for what it means to be God's people in Keighley and to bring the good news of Jesus to our communities.”

The Archdeacon of Bradford, the Venerable Andy Jolley, says, “It’s been great to work with the Parish Reps who have done the parish a great service by their work in appointing Mike. The next great phase for the Church in Keighley can begin!”

Twenty four men and women begin ministry as deacons in parish churches across the diocese this July, following two packed services held at the weekend in Wakefield Cathedral. They include a former GP, a headteacher, a magistrate, and a former telecomms trainer.  

The services were held at 'Pertertide'- July 2nd. In the morning service, nine men and women who will serve as curates in the Leeds and Wakefield Episcopal Areas were ordained . Later, at 3pm, a second service was held for the fifteen men and women who will serve as deacons in parishes in Ripon, Huddersfield and Bradford Episcopal Areas.

Two services were needed to allow space for the many family, friends and supporters of the ordinands to attend – even then ticket numbers had to be limited.

An ‘ember’ card has been produced to encourage the diocese to continue to pray for those who have started ordained ministry – click here to download.

Leading the service was the Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines while the preacher at both events was the Revd Canon Charlotte Methuen.

Within the Church of England there are three stages of ordained ministry: deacons, priests and bishops. Following training at theological college, newly ordained deacons are appointed to a three to four year post of curate, for training alongside an experienced vicar. After one year, deacons are ordained priest.

(Below left- ordinands with Bishop Nick at the 11am service - right, ordinands with Bishop Nick following the 3pm service, both outside Wakefield Cathewdral)

To serve in the Ripon Area

	Julie Clarkson	Julie will serve her curacy in the United Benefice of Barnoldswick with Bracewell. Prior to her training on the Yorkshire Ministry Course, she was a Reader and worship leader in the Beeston parish, Leeds. Julie is married to Chris and they have two grown up children and five grandchildren. She has worked in the telecommunications industry as a trainer for the past 15 years. Julie enjoys travelling, reading and spending time with her grandchildren.
	Ruth Donegan-Cross	Ruth Donegan-Cross will serve in the parish of St John’s and St Luke’s, Bilton in Harrogate after training for ordination with the Yorkshire Ministry Course. Ruth is married to Guy, who is Vicar of a neighbouring church, and they have 4 children, John (20), Hamish (18), Toby (17) and Anna (14) plus a recently arrived puppy, Bess.  Prior to ordination she was Chaplain at Harrogate Ladies’ College. She loves films, novels, cooking and all things creative.
	Stephen Hanscombe	Stephen Hanscombe will serve in the Benefice of Bedale after training for ordination on the Yorkshire Ministry Course where he read for a B.A.  As a Self-Supporting Minister, Stephen will continue to work part-time as Co-Headteacher of Mill Hill Primary School in Northallerton.  He has worked in education for thirty years and has always felt this to be his original vocation.  Stephen earned a Choral Scholarship at Bishop Grosseteste College in Lincoln where he sang in the Cathedral Choir. Following ordination he is looking forward to combining his two vocations and continuing to hear God’s call.  Most of his spare time is spent walking his Labrador, Poppy.  Stephen also enjoys reading, singing, travelling and gardening and is cultivating a new interest in growing vegetables.
	Alex Ladds	Alex Ladds will serve in the parish of Broughton, Marton and Thornton and as School Chaplain at Giggleswick in North Yorkshire after training for ordination with the Lancaster and Cumbria Theological Partnership where he read for a Diploma in Theology.  Alex is married to Louise and they have two children, Isaac, aged 15 and Joseph aged 14. Prior to ordination Alex was a Teacher and Lay Chaplain at Giggleswick School.  Alex’s hobbies include fell-walking, long distance running (Completed the UTMB CCC 2014), swimming, rugby football, sport and clay pigeon shooting climbing, orienteering, cricket, athletics and self-defence. I enjoy reading, crosswords and visiting national trust properties.
	Stroma McDermott	Stroma McDermott will serve in the parish of Wetherby with Linton after training for ordination at Yorkshire Ministry Course where she read for an MA.  Stroma is married to Damian and they have three children (Eleanor, 18 years; Christian, 15 years and Cosmo 10 years). Prior to ordination Stroma worked as a Principal Auditor for 16 years with the Audit Commission, performing financial and governance audits across West and North Yorkshire for Local Government and Health Bodies before undertaking a Theology degree at York St John University  (thoroughly recommended!) where she went on to become the Chaplaincy Administrator.  As a contextual placement student she has had placements with Leeds Church Institute and the Church of the Epiphany, Gipton in Leeds. Stroma is a massive Elvis fan and loves music, going to concerts, the theatre, cinema and dance and things involving wine. She has recently taken up running, which she is slowly learning to dislike less!
	Tim Madeley	Tim Madeley will serve in the Ingleborough Team Ministry, based primarily at St John the Baptist, Low Bentham after training for ordination at Ridley Hall Cambridge, where he read for a BA. Prior to ordination, Tim worked in Employment Law after completing a masters at Law School in Leeds. Before beginning training for ordination, he spent a year as a Pastoral Worker at HMS Drake, Plymouth, working with the Royal Naval Chaplaincy Service and employed by the charity known as Aggie Weston’s. He is very keen on cycling, having ridden a few sportives (organised cycle rides) and been an avid watcher of the Tour de France since 1994. He recently trained for and ran the Cambridge Half Marathon for Christian Aid. He is keen to keep up the running and cycling after ordination. Other interests include playing the guitar, watching films and playing computer games.

To serve in the Bradford area

	Robert Johnson	Robert will serve in the parishes of St James the Great, Woodhall and St Margaret’s, Thornbury after training for ordination at The Yorkshire Ministry Course, Mirfield.  Robert is married to Lynne and they have three grown up daughters, Sarah, Rebecca, and Heather.  Their son Thomas still lives at home.  Prior to ordination Robert was a Reader in the historic diocese of Bradford and he will continue to work fulltime in his pastoral role at Parkside School, Cullingworth. Robert’s hobbies include supporting Bradford City, singing with two choirs, fishing, listening to music and reading.
	Anthony Laotan	Anthony Olanrewaju Laotan will serve in the parish of Holy Trinity Church, Idle, Bradford after training for ordination at the Yorkshire Ministry Course, Mirfield where he read for a BA. Originally from Nigeria, the most populous black country in the world, Anthony considers himself a 'Northern Lad' having lived north of England since his coming over to the UK 14 years ago. He is married to Amaka (means Beautiful) and they have three children (Jemima 10, Jasmine 7 and Joshua 5). Prior to ordination, he was a Reader in the then Ripon and Leeds diocese (now WYAD) and has worked as a Youth worker with various faith and mainstream organizations, the most recent being the Salvation Army/ SPACE initiative and St Luke's Church, Holbeck. Anthony is a passionate 'Match of the day' viewer (hopefully will get the football boots back on again and hopes Leicester wins the EPL for a change), loves Chinese food (takeaway or buffet), visiting new places and dancing to afro-gospel tunes.
	Sue McWhinney	Sue will serve in the parish of St John the Evangelist, Baildon, after training for 3 years on Yorkshire Ministry Course at Mirfield where she read for a BA (Sheffield) in Theological Studies. Sue has been married to Paul for 32 years, and they have two children, James, a Durham graduate now working for an engineering consultancy in Warrington, and Sarah, a Fine Art student at Glasgow School of Art. Sue was a GP principal near York before the family moved to Bradford in 2000, when Paul took up his post as a consultant physician at Bradford Royal Infirmary. In recent years Sue has been heavily involved in the life of her sending church, Bradford Cathedral, and she enjoys walking in the Dales and Northumberland with Paul, live music of all varieties (from early music to Scottish/Irish folk), theatre and visiting art galleries. However she draws the line at participating in the family passion for caving!
	Nathanael Poole	Nathanael will serve in the parish of St Johns, Great Horton, after training for ordination at Cranmer Hall, Durham, where he read for a BA. Nathanael married Lauren in the summer of 2015. Before training for ministry Nathanael worked with a fresh expression of church meeting in the city centre of Wolverhampton, where he was involved in coordinating worship and young peoples discipleship. Nathanael enjoys cycling, going to the gym, reading, cooking, playing guitar, and regular trips to the cinema.
	Tim Roberts	Tim Roberts will serve in the parish of St. John the Baptist, Clayton after training for ordination at St. John’s, Nottingham where he read for a MTh. Tim is married to Emma and they have three boys called Joshua (7), Jamie (4) and Isaac (2). Prior to ordination he did a gap year at St. Marks, Utley which turned into a ‘gap-decade’ as he became the ‘church and community youthworker’ in which time he also got his youthwork and ministry degree. Tim loved his time at St. Marks and has spent the three years at college learning to embrace his new call to ordained ministry and is excited about serving in Clayton despite still coming to terms with ‘vicar clothes’. Tim enjoys spending time with Emma, being with friends, playing 5-a-side football, supporting Liverpool FC and being a climbing frame for his boys!

For the Huddersfield Area

	Steven Harvey	Steven will serve his title post in the parish of Holy Trinity, Huddersfield, after training for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, where he read for an MTh in Applied Theology.  Prior to ordination, Steven served as a pastoral assistant to a group of churches in the Holme Valley.  Before that he was a theological student in Durham for a number of years, where he met his wife, Angela, a native of Texas.  He hopes to continue his studies by researching two of his favourite things: the Old Testament and preaching.  Steven and Angela have two young children (Jedidiah, 3, and Talitha, 1) who keep them on their toes.  When not chasing them around, Steven enjoys reading, writing and playing board games with friends.  Risk, anyone?!
	Simon Scott	Simon Scott will serve as a Self-Supporting Minister at Halifax Minster after training for ordination on the Yorkshire Ministry Course. Simon has a background in music and lives with his partner Peter on the hills above Halifax along with their Dalmatian – Bertie! Prior to ordination Simon has been the Reader at St Luke’s Norland for six years. Simon will continue to work as a primary Head Teacher after ordination and his hobbies include Model Railways and tinkering about with his 1953 Morris Oxford MO (or if he’s honest, ‘supervising’ other people’s tinkering)! Simon is very excited about joining the Minster team and looking forward to a fantastic Curacy there!
	Cindy Sheard	My name is Cindy Sheard, I am married to Alan and we have 4 daughters.  My journey towards ordination began some 20 years ago when I felt God calling me into something (not quite sure what at that time!).  I began attending my local church in Gomersal …  The calling remained over the years as I spent time as a stay at home mum, embarked upon a degree and other study and trained as a Lay Reader as I tried to discern what God was calling me to.  Eventually, I ended up working in my local Church Primary School and found the courage and confidence to answer God’s call on my life.  I am looking forward to continuing my journey of faith and living out God’s call as I serve a curacy (as a Non-Stipendiary Minister) at St Peter’s, Birstall with the Rev’d Captain Paul Knight.
	Andrew Steer	After studying at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, for a Diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission, Andrew will serve in the parish of All Hallows, Almondbury with Farnley Tyas. Married to Jennifer, a Staff Nurse, they have two adult children – Jessica, a primary school teacher and Rachel, who has just begun teaching English in Japan. Andrew was a midwife in Leeds for 25 years, where he held various roles which included lecturing, management and also as a Supervisor of Midwives. Jennifer and Andrew served as Church Warden’s at St. John’s, Yeadon, where their faith was re-ignited and they discerned God’s call afresh. Andrew has a keen interest in the outdoors, particularly mountain and fell walking, where he is able to find a greater sense of God’s presence. He also enjoys cycling, ornithology, real ales and both folk and world music. He particularly enjoys Tuvan throat singing, but it’s best not to ask about that!

Being ordained at Wakefield Cathedral, 11am, July 2nd

For the Leeds Area

	Alison Battye	Alison Battye will serve in the parish of St Mary’s Whitkirk after training for ordination with the Yorkshire Ministry Course. She is married to Peter and they have two grown up children. On moving to Leeds in 1987 she worked as a secondary science teacher. After a few years as a full time Mum she then became a primary school teacher. She has also enjoyed working with children in church and as a beaver scout leader. In her spare time she enjoys hiking (mostly with family), singing and flute playing (with friends) and running (mainly alone).
	Sonia Kasibante	Sonia will serve at Epiphany Gipton and Oakwood churches after training for ordination with the Yorkshire Ministry Course at Mirfield where she read for a BA in Theological Studies with Sheffield University.  Sonia is married to Amos who is parish priest of St Agnes Burmantofts and St Cyprian’s Harehills and they have a daughter, Miriam, currently at university in Uganda.  Sonia was born and brought up in Guyana, and moved to the UK over 20 years ago.  She has a BSc in IT and Computing from the Open University and has worked in a number of administrative roles, including being church administrator at St Agnes’.  She has also served as a volunteer management committee member and chair of the Ebor Gardens Advice Centre which gives free debt and money advice.  Hobbies include visiting gardens, walking, going for drives in the countryside, reading, TV Documentaries (natural world, culture, current affairs), and listening to a variety of music
	Jimmy Lawrence	Jimmy Lawrence will serve the parish of All Saints, Otley after training for ordination at St. Barnabas Theological College where he read for a BA. Jimmy is supported by parents Barbara and Robin, his girlfriend Hannah, his brother and two sisters. Jimmy’s first degree at Leeds University was in Music where studied as a singer and choral conductor. He spent time working at Coventry Cathedral as a Pastoral Assistant during which time he locked himself in an outdoor cage, for a week, as a way of talking to people about how Jesus can set them free. Some of Jimmy’s loves include; excellent coffee, his ever growing library and cooking.
	Hannah Lievesley	Hannah Lievesley will serve in the parish of Farsley, Leeds, after training for ordination at St John’s School of Mission (formerly St John’s College, Nottingham) where she read Theology, Mission and Ministry for a Diploma in Higher Education. Hannah is married to Jason, who works in I.T., and they have two children (Alice, 14 and Isaac, 12).  Prior to ordination, Hannah worked in Higher Education administration, most recently as the Student Funding Manager at the University of Leeds. She loves the outdoors and especially enjoys getting out into green spaces with the family dog, Mia. Holidays are usually spent under canvas, around the Dales and Northumberland. Hannah studied English Literature for her first degree and has retained her love of reading and passed it onto her daughter. More recently, at college, she has re-discovered the pool-playing and card-sharp skills she developed during her teenage years. She remains unbeaten at snap.

For the Wakefield Area

	Angela Brownridge	Angela will serve her curacy in the parish of Holy Cross, Airedale with Fryston.  She trained for ordination on the Yorkshire Ministry Course at Mirfield, prior to training/ordination Angela was a Lay Pastoral Minister for 13 years.  She works for Wakefield Council in a Main Branch Library, and sees this as an important part of her ministry.  Angela is married to Darren who is a keen motor cyclist, and they have ridden  in the UK, Europe and the USA.   Angela and Darren have two children Hannah aged 26 and Joseph aged 24.  Angela likes spending time with her family and friends and finds reading and fell walking enjoyable.  She is looking forward to serving as a curate in Airedale.
	John Fisher	John will serve in the parish of Darton, Staincross and Mapplewell after training for ordination at the Yorkshire Ministry Course, Mirfield where he read for a BA.  John is married to Maureen and they have two sons Luke 25 and Matthew 23.  Prior to ordination he worked for Environmental Health and prior to that within the mining industry. He has also worked within the community as a Local Magistrate and as a Scout Leader in Pontefract. His extensive voluntary work has earned him the award “Making a difference” from the local authority. John’s hobbies include: Scouting which has taken him all over the world and helped him build up an interesting international scouting portfolio: Hiking, he has enjoyed running an informal local hiking group: Kayaking, John and his family especially enjoy the waters of the Lake District such as Derwent Water and Coniston. His big passion however is motorbikes and motorbike racing and he keenly follows the MotoGP visiting many circuits both here in the UK and overseas.
	Kate Reynolds	Kate Reynolds will serve her curacy in the parish of St Mary the Virgin, South Elmsall, after training for ordination at Yorkshire Ministry Course in Mirfield, where she studied for a Foundation Degree in Theology. Kate is married to Kevin and they have three children and five grandchildren.  She is to be ordained a self-supporting minister and will continue working as a support worker for The Saviour Trust, and as a Christian Schools Worker in her home parish of All Saints’ Pontefract.  Kate is a fan of theatre, cinema, live music and also enjoys cooking.
	Lucy Savage	Lucy will serve in the parish of Ossett and Gawthorpe after training for ordination at St. John's School of Mission where she read for a BA in Theology for Ministry.  Lucy is a single Ordinand, daughter of Jenny and Edwin Savage and sister to Robert,  Judith, Matthew and their respective partners.  She enjoys spending time with her 6 nephews and nieces who she is immensely proud of.  Prior to ordination she read for a BA Hons in Music at The University of Nottingham, worked 2 years as Parish Assistant for The Benefice of Fulbourn and the Wilbrahams in Cambridgeshire, and spent 3 months with her sister's family in New Zealand.  In addition to New Zealand, Lucy has trekked to Base Camp of Everest in Nepal and visited our Diocesan links in The Sudan as a placement with college.  Other hobbies include singing, Irish dancing, socialising with friends, knitting and sewing.
	Tim Stevens	Tim will serve at Wakefield Cathedral, after training for ordination on the Yorkshire Ministry Course where he read for an MA in Liturgy.  Tim is married to Jolene and they have two children, William aged 3 and Bethany aged 1.   Prior to ordination he was an organist in Headingley for over ten years, where he was also involved in work with students.  He has worked in retail for fifteen years, most recently for Asda where he has been based in their head office in Leeds for the last 4 years.  Tim likes to spend as much time as possible enjoying his family, who like to join him in walking trips (although some of them get carried more than they walk!), and is currently exploring as many railways as possible with his son and as many parks and zoos as possible with his daughter.  Tim also enjoys music, both playing and listening, and demonstrates an eclectic taste.

Canon John Clayton is thought to be unique in the Church of England as he is celebrating his 105th birthday as well as 80 years of ordained ministry.

Bishop Nick led a special service at St Giles’ Bramhope in Leeds. He said, “Canon John Clayton has had an extraordinarily long and faithful ministry, and I imagine this will be the one and only time I conduct such a service.  

“The dates are all remarkable – he was born in Leeds in 1911, so he was five when the Battle of the Somme took place. He was ordained before the Beatles were born, and he had retired before I left school.”

Vicar of St Giles, the Revd Janice Smith (left), says, “What an inspiration Canon Clayton is. He is a hugely valued member of St Giles, and until the age of 100 was still actively involved in church services, preaching and leading Holy Communion.

“The church was full  for his service, and people came from far and wide, including Otley from where he retired in 1976. One lady said he’d married her and her husband there 55 years ago!”

Canon John says, “I have loved working for the church, and I’ve never been bored - people are very interesting, occasionally a little naughty and more often than not very lovable.”

He says one of the things he’s most proud of is being involved in the installation of the first cross on Otley Chevin. In 1968, wanting to raise awareness of the Easter message, a group of churches erected a 32ft high cross on Otley Chevin, and the tradition has continued ever since.

He adds, “I was part of a group who helped get the project off the ground and I was privileged to preach the sermon on that first Easter. Some people didn’t think it would work, but more than 200 came the first time we hauled it up and, nearly 50 years later, they’re still going today, offering a sign of hope over the town each year. It shows that sometimes if you take a bit of a risk it pays off.”

A party was held after the service, with photos going back to John Clayton’s childhood, and he was keen to blow out the candles on the cake himself.

Canon John Clayton studied at Leeds University and Wells Theological College.
He was ordained at Wakefield Cathedral in 1935 and served his first curacy at St John the Evangelist, Dewsbury Moor.