Fundraisers have launched a campaign to renovate an historic Victorian church on the Newby Hall estate between Ripon and Boroughbridge.

The church of Christ the Consoler is at the centre of a renovation project organised by the estate and local villagers. The ‘Friends of Christ the Consoler’ are on a mission to bring life to the church through events while at the same time raising funds to deliver renovation projects.

Priorities include reinstating the church’s boiler and heating system, which has not worked for 30 years. This will help preserve the church’s stained glass, some of which has deteriorated over the years due to humidity levels.

The church was built in the early 1870s with unpaid ransom money in memory of the son of Lady Mary Vyner of Newby Hall who was killed during his attempted rescue from kidnappers in Greece.

She commissioned British architect William Burges to design the church, now an example of Victorian gothic revival architecture. Craftsmen created a rich and colourful interior of fine marble, stained glass, gilded mosaics and exquisite carvings on the organ case.

Burges also designed St Mary’s Church at the nearby Studley Royal estate for Frederick’s sister and her husband, the Marquess and Marchioness of Ripon. Christ the Consoler was the parish church of Skelton cum Newby until 1991 and is now cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust.

The Friends of Christ the Consoler also want to restore the church’s grade one Thomas C Lewis organ. Lewis was one of the leading organ builders of the late 19th century, his works include the one at Ripon Cathedral.

The campaign group is made up of representatives from the Newby Hall estate and Skelton cum Newby Parish Council. The church’s single bell has already been restored and re-strung and now rings for the first time in over 20 years. The group now needs to raise more than £15,000 to reinstate the church’s heating system.

Parish Council chairman Guy Critchlow in the Church

Parish Council chairman Guy Critchlow said:

“The church is in a beautiful location and has some of the finest stained glass in the country. Recommissioning the heating system is the first step to help stabilise the stained glass. Our aim is to bring life to the church through events and raise much needed funds for its restoration and conservation.”

Stuart Gill, commercial director at Newby Hall, said:

“We are delighted to collaborate with the parish council to breathe new life into the church and create an environment that visitors and the local community can share and enjoy.”

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Police have issued a CCTV image of a man they wish to speak to after historic items were stolen from a church in Bilton-in-Ainsty.

Officers said the items have been located after the force issued an appeal to find them in July.

The artefacts have since been returned to their rightful owner.

Now, North Yorkshire Police has issued a CCTV image of a man they would look to speak to in connection with the incident.

A force statement added:

“Officers investigating the theft have also now issued CCTV stills of a man they would like to speak to, as he may have important information that could assist their ongoing enquiries.

“If you recognise him, or have any information about the theft, please email sophie.hodgson@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for PC 1787 Hodgson. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Please quote reference number 12230134302 when passing on information.”

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Hotels, pubs, restaurants, care homes and communities are being called on to be part of a floral competition in Harrogate for the first time since before the pandemic.

Harrogate in Bloom (HIB) has launched its annual contest for businesses and community organisations this summer.

It will be the first time the competition has been run in full since 2019, after being called off in 2020.

HIB member Mary Mann, who helps to organise the competition, told the Stray Ferret:

“We couldn’t meet or go round to see the gardens during covid.

“We did a small competition last year, but we’re determined it’s going to get back to normal this year. We used to have masses of entries before covid.”

The competition has four categories: bars and restaurants, hotels and guesthouses, residential communities, and communal gardens.

The latter is aimed at public places such as churches which have outside space, while residential communities are often blocks of flats with communal gardens.

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The size of the garden is not important in any of the categories – the judges will be looking at the way the space is maintained and the use of flowers, including those in containers.

Each entrant will be judged against RHS criteria and given an award for the standard it achieves, from a certificate of merit up to a gold award. A winner will be announced in each category in September.

Judging will be carried out by Chris Beard and Roger Brownbridge, both experienced Yorkshire in Bloom and Harrogate in Bloom judges.

To find out more about the competition, or enter by the deadline of June 30, click here.

Meanwhile, Harrogate is also gearing up for judging in the regional Yorkshire in Bloom contest.

Members of HIB and other organisations have been working hard to ensure the town is shown off at its best over the summer, maintaining its long tradition of success in floral competitions.

Harrogate BID, meanwhile, has been selected for Britain in Bloom after winning gold in last year’s Yorkshire Contest. The business organisation will be supported by members of HIB to prepare for judging.

Free chicks are once again appearing in Bilton over Holy Week to bring some Easter magic to children.

Members of Bilton Grange United Reformed Church knit the chicks and leave them on the hedge outside the building each morning.

They will be appearing every day this week until Easter Sunday.

Children are welcome to take them for free.

The volunteers have run similar initiatives during other Christian festivals. For instance, they put out angels at Christmas and doves at Whitsun to spread joy.

The chicks are laid on the hedge at the junction of Skipton Road and Woodfield Road every morning until Easter Sunday.

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Members of Bilton Grange United Reformed Church pictured giving away the chicks last year.

A church in Boroughbridge is opening its doors for 12 hours every Thursday to ensure nobody is cold or lonely at home.

St James’s Church will offer activities and hot drinks, as well as somewhere warm to be and to socialise, from 9am to 9pm each week.

The church already hosts Make Time for Music for babies, toddlers and their carers from 9.30am to 10am on a Thursday. Bell ringing, recorder and mindfulness groups also meet once a month.

Now, from 6.30pm until 9pm, people will be able to use the church for reading, playing board games or simply having someone to chat to, all with hot drinks served.

Rev Karen Gardiner said:

“It was our first day on Thursday. We had 16 families come in for our new music group this week, which is great.

“There is no fixed cost for anything, though people can make a donation to the costs of running these if they would like to and are able.

“The church is kept at a comfortable 18 degrees throughout the day with the loos open. We are open and warm at some other times of the week too.

“We’re keen that the message gets out to everyone who would either like to be somewhere free and warm, or who would like to just make friends and do something different.”

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The initiatives is part of St James’s “somewhere to belong” programme, which is aimed at ensuring anyone in the local area is made welcome at all church events.

This means there are no fixed entry fees for anything, so people can donate as much or as little as they are able, ensuring anyone struggling financially can still join in. There are also provisions in place to support people who have dementia, mental ill health, autism spectrum disorders, problems with substance abuse, and other health conditions, to help everyone feel as comfortable and welcome as possible.

Make Time for Music is part of the warm space day every Thursday in Boroughbridge

The church is funding the weekly ‘warm space’ initiative through a grant from Leeds Diocese of £770.

Rev Gardiner said:

“That gives us the ability to open much more and keep the heating on.

“We still don’t know exactly how much it’s going to cost us, but we felt it was a matter of faith and principle. We are in a better position than most people to offer a warm space, so we want to share that with our community.”

For more information, visit the church website.