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15

Jun 2020

Last Updated: 16/06/2020

Ripon Cathedral re-opens to the public for private prayer

by Tim Flanagan

| 15 Jun, 2020
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The coronavirus crisis meant that Ripon Cathedral and all places of worship across the UK, had to close their doors, but the place where generations of believers have said their prayers for more than 1300 years, is back open for private prayer.

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Clergy, led by the Very Reverend Dean John Dobson, re-opened the doors of Ripon Cathedral at 10am on Monday to welcome in parishioners and visitors wishing to say private prayers.

After more than 10 weeks of lockdown caused by the coronavirus crisis, the cathedral is one of only a handful of places of worship in the Harrogate district to re-open at the first opportunity allowed by the government.



Dean John (pictured centre), told The Stray Ferret:

"We knew that this day would arrive and planned ahead and it was pleasing to see the first people back through our doors to say their prayers."


The Cathedral, which will be open between 10am and 4pm from Monday to Saturday and 12 noon until 4pm on Sundays, is following very strict social distancing and hygiene rules to protect the wellbeing of visitors who come to pray, or light a candle. Hand sanitiser is available on entry; seating has been reduced and signage is in place.

During lockdown, services have been streamed live on YouTube - including the Easter Day Sung Eucharist and these have attracted a growing audience.



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Dean John believes that prayer plays an important role in daily lives and said:

"Many people, through these weeks and months of lockdown, have sensed their need of spiritual nourishment and their need to pray and that is quite a universal thing among many people of different faiths and different parts of the Christian church."


He and fellow clergy, Canon Ailsa Newby, Canon Michael Gisbourne, The Rev. Caitlin Carmichael-Davies and The Venerable Clive Mansell, welcomed in the first small group of people waiting for the cathedral's doors to open.

The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, is one of the most ancient places of worship in the UK and prayers have been said at this location for more than 1300 years.