Churches across the Harrogate district are opening so people can pay tribute to the Queen and sign books of condolence. We report on what each parish has planned to allow people to mourn, reflect and celebrate her life.

Ripon

Ripon Cathedral will be the main focal point for the mourning of the Queen in the Harrogate district.

A book of condolence for the Queen opened at 10am this morning.

The cathedral will be open throughout the day for people to sign the book of condolences and pray.

There will be a special Evensong service at 5.30pm and a vigil service at 8.30pm. A specific place has also been designated outside the cathedral where people can lay flowers.

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson, said on the cathedral’s website:

“We are very sorry to hear of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll.

“She was one of the world’s greatest figures of our time, one who dedicated her life as monarch to the wellbeing of the people of this nation, the Commonwealth and the wider world.”

 

Saturday 10th September 

Hourly prayers taking place on the hour

8.30am – Morning Prayer

12 noon – Holy Communion

5.30pm – Special Choral Evensong with prayers to mark the Proclamation of the King

Cathedral open until 9pm

Sunday 11th September 

8am – Holy Communion

9.30am – Morning Prayer

10.30am – Eucharist with the Bishop of Ripon. The service will include prayers for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III

3.30pm – Choral Evensong to mark the death of the sovereign Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Cathedral open until 7pm

A book of condolences has been opened at St Peter’s Church in Harrogate

Harrogate

In Harrogate, a book of condolences has been opened at St Peter’s Church on Cambridge Street in the town centre.

St John’s Church on Bilton Lane is open between 9am and 5pm today for “people to be quiet, reflect and pray as they remember and give thanks for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

Knaresborough 

Read more

• LIVE: Bells to toll at midday across the district to mark the Queen’s death

Pateley Bridge

A book of condolences has been open at St Cuthbert’s Church in Pateley Bridge.

Vicar Darryl Hall invited people to “feel free to light a candle and say a prayer.”

Prayer stations in Holy Trinity Dacre Banks, St Jude’s Hartwith, Christ Church Darley and St Saviour’s Thornthwaite  and been set up where people can light a candle reflect, remember and pray.

Sunday Services:

9:30am Holy Communion at Holy Trinity, Dacre Banks

11am Holy Communion at St Saviour’s, Thornthwaite

6:30pm Holy Communion at Christ Church, Darley

Boroughbridge

Roecliffe Church will hold a short prayer service at 7.30pm Friday tonight.

St James’s in Borougbridge will hold prayers for the Queen and the new King on Monday morning at 9.30am.

Both churches, as well as St Mary’s in Dunsforth and St Andrew’s in Aldborough, will remain open as much as possible during the week for people to visit and to sign books of condolence.

A parish-wide service of commemoration and thanksgiving for the Queen will be held at St Andrew’s on Sunday, September 18 at 10am.

Masham

St Mary’s Church in Masham is open between 10am and 6pm today for people to light candles and say prayers.

A book of condolences will be opened on Saturday.

Elsewhere in the district

Nidd Church will be open for an hour today from 12pm.

A book of condolences has also been opened at the church in Hampsthwaite.

Craig Marshall, the rector of North Rigton, Weeton and Kirby Overblow, said:

“May Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth rest in peace and rise in glory.

“Our prayers are with King Charles and the royal family.”

He said books of condolences would be opened in each church alongside an image of the Queen.

The churches opened at 9am there will be prayers at 12 noon today in St Barnabas, Weeton and 7pm tonight in All Saints’ Kirkby Overblow.

Harrogate’s mayor has led tributes to the Queen’s “constant source of courage and inspiration” following the announcement of her death today.

Buckingham Palace announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, this afternoon. She died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.

Councillor Victoria Oldham, mayor of the Harrogate district, said in a statement:

“It is with great sadness to hear of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

 “Her Majesty The Queen has been a constant source of courage and inspiration throughout the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and across the world. 

“Throughout her 70-year reign, she has touched so many of our lives and led us through many dark but also many positive times.

“On behalf of everyone across the Harrogate district, I would like to offer our deepest condolences and sympathy to the Royal Family during this time.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.”

Other leading figures in the Harrogate district have also begun paying tribute to the Queen, including the leader of North Yorkshire County Council.

Councillor Carl Les said:

“The Queen’s reign has already been noted as the longest ever of any of the country’s monarchs, but she will be remembered for so much more than the length of her time as the Sovereign of our nation.

“Her tireless and unstinting commitment to the role has been an inspiration throughout the whole of her reign, and her legacy will leave an indelible impression for generations to come.

“I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy to the Royal Family for not only their loss, but the nation’s loss too. God save the King.”

County council chairwoman and Masham councillor Margaret Atkinson also said:

“I have always had a great deal of admiration for the Queen, and she was such a beautiful, kind and remarkable lady who I was fortunate enough to meet at a Garden Party in 1997 due to my charity work for Yorkshire Cancer.

“She had such dignity and humanity and kept to her promise that she would dedicate her life to the people of the UK and the Commonwealth. Which given her age of 96 when she passed away, is an incredible achievement.”

Harrogate and Knaresborough’s Liberal Democrat party added:

“We wish to pay our respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We thank her for her lifetime of dedicated service, our thoughts lie with the rest of the Royal Family today.”

The Royal Family gathered at the Queen’s Scottish estate after concerns grew about her health earlier today.

Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will now lead the country in mourning as the new King.

Read More:

• Lord Lieutenant pays tribute to the Queen from North Yorkshire

A tribute has been paid by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Jo Ropner, following the announcement of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

She said:

“It is with the most profound sadness that I have learnt of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

“Her unfailing commitment to our country and to the wider Commonwealth throughout the past 70 years has been an inspiration to us all.

“On Her Majesty’s 21st birthday in 1947, the then Princess Elizabeth vowed that her ‘whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service’ in an address broadcast to the Commonwealth, a commitment which was reaffirmed during her Coronation in 1953.

“That her life was so blessedly long, and that her youthful vow was kept so carefully, is an accomplishment for which we, as a county and as a nation, will be forever grateful.”

The Queen’s death was confirmed by Buckingham Palace just after 6.30pm this evening.

She died at Balmoral this afternoon, after it was announced earlier today that doctors were concerned about her health. Her immediate family gathered at the Scottish estate through the day.

Visits to North Yorkshire

Ms Ropner highlighted the Queen’s links to the county over her long reign. She said:

“Her Majesty visited North Yorkshire on numerous occasions, including the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate to mark its 150th anniversary in 2008 and the Maundy Thursday service at York Minster in 2012, and the county’s residents always welcomed the Queen with warm enthusiasm.

“I had the privilege of meeting Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace when I was appointed as Lord Lieutenant in 2018, and I know from personal experience that every engagement was conducted with grace and genuine interest, that every person felt the spark from meeting not only their monarch, but a truly remarkable woman whose commitment to her role will be remembered for generations to come.

“On behalf of the people of North Yorkshire, York and Teesside, I shall be expressing my heartfelt condolences to Her Majesty’s family.”

Read more:

• Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died
• Prayers tonight at Ripon Cathedral for the Queen

Buckingham Palace has announced that her Majesty the Queen has died.

Earlier today the Queen’s doctors had issued a warning that they were concerned about her health. This afternoon the Royal family travelled to Balmoral in Scotland to be at her side.

The Stray Ferret will temporary suspend publishing district news as a mark of respect.

For more news we link to BBC news, as the state’s broadcaster. bbc.co.uk

Prayers will be said at Ripon Cathedral tonight for her Majesty the Queen after her doctors expressed concern for her health.

Early this afternoon doctors issued a statement saying the 96-year-old Queen’s health was a concern and that she was comfortable at Balmoral.  Members of the royal family have travelled to Scotland to be by her side.

This evening at Ripon Cathedral, evensong prayers will be said for her majesty and the royal family.

The Bishop of Ripon, the right reverend Dr Helen-Ann Hartley issued this statement:

With so many others across the world, I send my prayers, thoughts and very best wishes to Her Majesty The Queen and all members of the Royal Family at this time of deep concern about Her Majesty’s health.

Our Cathedrals and churches in the Diocese of Leeds are open for people who want to gather in quiet contemplation, to light a candle if that is your tradition, and simply offer their own words, silent or spoken, and their thoughts.

As Archbishop Justin, the Archbishop of Canterbury has tweeted, ‘May God’s presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family, and those who are caring for her at Balmoral’.

Harrogate business leaders have warned that Liz Truss’s energy plan is “too little too late” to save struggling firms from closure.

The new prime minister today announced that annual energy bills for households will be frozen at £2,500 until 2024 as part of a huge support package which could cost up to £150 billion.

However, the scheme is less generous for businesses than had been expected as their bills will be capped for six months – a shorter period than many had hoped for.

Sara Ferguson, chair of Harrogate BID, said:

“As the owner of a town centre restaurant, one that uses a lot of gas and electricity, I don’t think the support being offered goes far enough, or long enough.

“It pains me to say this, but even with the energy price cap some business will simply not be able to pay higher bills.

“It is going to be another tough time for the high street.”

Energy prices have soared this year, largely due to the conflict in Ukraine which has reduced supplies of gas.

This has driven up the UK energy price cap which sets the highest amount suppliers are allowed to charge households and had been due to rise from £1,971 to £3,549 in October.

Unlike households, small businesses are not covered by the cap and Harrogate district MPs were last month warned that many firms would soon reach a “tipping point”.

Read more:

• Business group to help boost growth in Kirkby Malzeard
• Harrogate district business groups call for more support after new PM’s energy announcement

Speaking in the commons today, Ms Truss said she was “acting immediately” in her premiership and that the support for businesses may be extended for vulnerable sectors after the six-month period.

“Extraordinary challenges call for extraordinary measures, ensuring that the United Kingdom is never in this situation again.”

Reacting to her announcement, David Simister, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said it would be “too little, too late” for some businesses.

“Businesses have had it incredibly tough for more than two years, and it isn’t going to get any easier. Surging energy costs are just one of the pressures facing businesses.

“When Ms Truss recently came to Harrogate, members of Independent Harrogate challenged her about business rates.

“Her response was that she would review them. This she needs to do urgently, along with looking at VAT, fuel duty, National Insurance and corporation tax.”

This morning, Prime Minister Liz Truss announced the government’s plans to deal with spiralling energy costs.

The Prime Minister announced the price cap would be frozen at £2,500 per year for the average household for the next two years.

The Stray Ferret asked people in Harrogate’s town centre what they thought of the announcement.

Of the seven people we spoke to, none of them thought the measures would be enough.

These are their thoughts:

Amandine Thomas and Lauren Keane

Lauren Keane and Amandine Thomas, from Harrogate, were out having lunch in the town centre.

Ms Keane wanted to know why the government had not been looked at other options for reducing bills:

“It’s still too high. It’s annoying to know that other countries have capped it at reasonable levels.”

“This is probably it [for price reductions]. They seem to care about profits compared to people.”

“We need to invest more in renewable energy.”

Ms Thomas added:

“I know at the moment [prices are high], obviously with the war in Ukraine and general inflation. Hopefully they won’t stay like that.”

Brian Hazell

Brian Hazell feared that people would suffer if more was not done to help people with their bills:

“[Prices] are too high. It’s got to [come down], or a lot of people are going to be poorly off this winter.”

“They need to make energy companies pay. [The government] will get us into debt and will have to pay it off for years if we’re not careful.”

Read more

• Dacre Banks pub gives warning as it faces £65,000 energy bill
• Help for Ripon residents confused about energy rebates

Mr and Mrs Newall

On Cambridge Street, Mr and Mrs Newall placed the blame on the government. Mr Newall said:

“Typical Tory government helping their rich friends and the poor all pay the price. It won’t change until we get another government, but another government wouldn’t do much either. I don’t know how they sleep on a night.”

Mrs Newall added:

“People who stay in all day need to use more fuel than we probably do. We’re fixed until December [but then the bill will increase], won’t it?”

Courtney Nicholson

This sentiment was shared by Courtney Nicholson:

“It’s an insult to the public that they’re freezing them. They should be bringing them down. People are struggling. I can’t make a wage stretch a month anymore. Bills are going up. They should be actively trying to bring them down. It’s no way to live.”

Jane Schaffer

Jane Schaffer runs a pottery business which she brings to Harrogate’s farmers market.

She has seen the energy costs increase for the kiln she uses to make her pottery. She said:

“There’s a lot of hype around [the cost of energy]. I’m wondering about them going up. If they go up as predicted, it’ll be double the cost.

“The media have a lot to answer for – scaremongering.”

However, Ms Schaffer was concerned that the general increase in the cost of living may affect the number of people buying her items:

“One the one hand they’re essentials, on another they’re luxury items.”

High Harrogate Working Men’s Club on Devonshire Place is set to get a major refurbishment as well as a new name.

The WMC has been a part of the High Harrogate community since 1889 and it recently secured a loan from Co-operative & Community Finance to help secure its future.

The refurbishment will involve converting and extending the first and second floors to form six apartments.

The ground floor, first floor and the building’s exterior will be fully renovated.

The newly named High Harrogate Bar and Lounge will be able to space for judo, pilates and meditation classes as well as other indoor sports.

A modernised function room will also be available for events, parties and live music to help bring in extra revenue for the club.

A new website is also being created to help broaden the club’s appeal.

Read more:

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Plans for the renovation have been popular with locals. At the club’s last AGM around 80 members attended and unanimously expressed their support for the proposals.

Kevin Lloyd-Evans, lending and relationship manager at Co-operative & Community Finance said:

“We are delighted to be lending again to a Working Men’s Club. Being able to respond to access to finance challenges is paramount to our work. We support membership organisations which are democratically controlled and collectively owned. This is a brilliant start as we now look to support other Working Men’s Clubs across the country.”

A business organisation in Harrogate has called for more certainty after the new Prime Minister announced support for them in the face of rising energy bills.

While a clear package has been put in place for households, limiting typical household bills to £2,500 per year for two years, Liz Truss has said “equivalent support” for business will last for six months.

But local businesses have called for further measures and more long-term reassurance that they will be protected from future energy price hikes.

David Simister, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said:

“I welcome the fact the Prime Minister has included businesses in her support package, but for some it will be too little too late, and unlike households it’s just for six months. She could also have reduced VAT on energy bills, but didn’t.

“Businesses have had it incredibly tough for more than two years, and it isn’t going to get any easier. Surging energy costs are just one of the pressures facing businesses.

“When Ms Truss recently came to Harrogate, members of Independent Harrogate challenged her about business rates. Her response was that she would review them. This she needs to do urgently, along with looking at VAT, fuel duty, National Insurance and Corporation Tax.”

Mr Simister’s views were echoed by Ripon BID, whose manager Lilla Bathurst said:

“Whilst any support for businesses is welcomed, we feel that a six month energy price cap does not go nearly far enough to support businesses that have weathered the last very difficult two years.

“The majority of businesses in the BID area simply do not have the reserves to ride out any further cost pressures.  We very much urge the government to announce further meaningful and targeted business support in the next few days.”

Read more:

• Harrogate district businesses urge new PM to offer urgent support
• Dacre Banks pub gives warning as it faces £65,000 energy bill

A woman has been given a conditional discharge for six months and fined £111 for stealing a miniature Dachshund from a home on Swan Road.

Maggie went missing from Laurie and Paul Smith’s home on Swan Road in August.  A neighbour’s CCTV had captured images of a woman the Smiths believed snatched her from the front garden.

The couple began a frantic hunt for their missing pet and posted the CCTV images on social media.

A huge response led the couple to a house on Oakdale Avenue, half a mile from their home, where they believed Maggie was.

The Smiths called the police who recovered their dog which had been taken by 62-year-old Jonkal Messenger. An emotional reunion followed between Maggie and her owners.

Guilty plea

This morning, Messenger, who lives at Oakdale Rise in Harrogate, pleaded guilty to theft at Harrogate Magistrates Court.

She received a conditional discharge of 6 months and was ordered to pay court costs of £85 plus a victim’s surcharge of £26.

Read more:

• Owners of missing dachshund Maggie joyful she’s back home
• Harrogate couple’s desperate hunt for dog-napped Dachshund

Mr Smith told the Stray Ferret afterwards that he was pleased Ms Messenger has been held accountable.

He said:

“At first police said they wouldn’t prosecute. She always said she would return the dog but it didn’t hold up. Stealing a family dog is a heinous offence.”

A month on from the ordeal, Mr Smith said he was glad the police took it seriously. He added:

“It was an awful 48 hours after what she put us through.”