Clergy are going virtual to make up for the loss of a service that traditionally takes place on the eve of the Nidderdale Show.
The agricultural show, which was due to take place in Pateley Bridge tomorrow, was cancelled in June for the second year running due to covid.
An open air ecumenical service has been held at the Bewerley Park showground for many years on the Sunday before the show.
This prompted Nidderdale vicars the Rev. Alastair Ferneley and the Rev. Darryl Hall, along with Methodist minister the Rev. Mike Poole and Jean Marshall, a member of the congregation at Providence United Reformed Church in Dacre, to produce their ‘No Show Service’.
Rev Ferneley, Vicar of Dacre with Hartwith and Darley with Thornthwaite, told the Stray Ferret:
“This Sunday is when we would have held the open air service but in the absence of the show for the second year running, a number of members of The Church in the Dale decided to produce a video.
“We hope that as many people as possible will watch it.”
The Rev. Alastair Ferneley plays guitar and sings in the video.
The video, recorded at St Michael and All Angels in Wilsill, opens with a view of the Nidderdale countryside and the sound of a guitar being played by the Rev. Poole, who is then joined by fellow guitarist the Rev. Fernley
Rev Hall, Vicar of St Cuthbert, Pateley Bridge, which covers six parishes, said:
“Though this year we again sadly have no Show due to the pandemic, the churches of Church in the Dale are still very much praying for our local
area and farming community.”
The 15-minute ‘No Show Service’ can be seen on Youtube here.
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Launched in 2007, The Church in the Dale is an alliance of churches of different denominations across Nidderdale.
It includes the Pateley Bridge Methodist Circuit, the Anglican parish of Upper Nidderdale, the Anglican parish of Dacre with Hartwith and Darley with Thornthwaite, Providence United Reformed Church, the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady Immaculate, and Holy Family RC parish at RAF Menwith Hill.