A petition signed by more than 800 people against the felling of trees in Ripon Cathedral’s £6 million expansion plans has been delivered to North Yorkshire Council.

The cathedral submitted plans in December for a two-storey structure on part of the public open space known as Minster Gardens.

It says the building is much-needed and will provide a new song school for its choir, a cafe, toilet facilities and disabled access.

But the plans also include the loss of a veteran beech tree as well as 10 other trees on the gardens which has proved controversial.

The cathedral has argued that 14 trees would be planted round the development as well as a further 300 at Studley Royal.

However to Jenni Holman, who set up the petition, this fails to compensate for the loss of the mature trees as well as part of the green space that would be built on.

The petition is still available to be signed in Karma on Kirkgate in Ripon and Ms Holman hopes more than 1,000 people will have put their names to it soon.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

“I organised it, with the help of many others, because I fundamentally disagree with the plans to build an annexe for the Cathedral’s use on Minster Gardens. Firstly and most importantly because it would mean felling eleven mature trees, one of which is a beech tree which has been awarded ‘veteran’ status. I shouldn’t need to explain the importance of trees now!

“Secondly, the area in question, Minster Gardens is a beautiful green space in a built up area, again climatically it is not good to create more hard surface areas. This park is used by people to sit and quietly enjoy, it contains a beautiful memorial garden too.

“It has been used for entertainment, for example when the theatre festival was on and many enjoyed the recent musical entertainment which rounded off St Wilfrid’s day.”

Ripon Cathedral’s plans have been backed by the public body Historic England as well as the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England.

The catherdral currently welcomes 100,000 visitors a year, which it argues could increase by 33% if the expansion went ahead.

The Dean of Ripon the Very Rev John Dobson said the tree campaigners were risking undermining a development which he believes will “hugely enhance” both the city and its cathedral.

He said:

“We are really disappointed with how this petition has been positioned as we feel that it is not representative of the plans submitted.

“It’s disingenuous to suggest that this development would take away green space from the city, in fact it is adding to the usable green space in the area and landscaping will flow into the memorial garden. No one takes a decision to cut down a tree lightly but we believe this new development will bring a wide range of benefits to the city.

“We are planting 14 trees around the development and a further 300 on land which has been made available to us at Studley, as well as increasing the biodiversity of the green space created.”

Councillors on North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon planning committee are expected to consider the application later this year.

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There was a sweet after-taste to Ripon Cathedral’s Beer Festival, as a tally up of takings showed it raised £18,000.

The event, held in the Dean of Ripon’s garden in the shadow of the city’s iconic cathedral, attracted a record 1,250 adults.

Their purchase of pints of craft ales, combined with tickets bought for the tombola, raised money that will help fund the music, heritage conservation and the education programme at the cathedral.

In this celebration 1,350th anniversary year, at the church founded by Wilfrid, the festivities will go on until October and there was plenty to toast and look forward to at the festival, making its return after two years of covid lockdowns.

Ready to pull the pints – the bar team at the festival

Sponsored by Wolseley, the event saw 42 different craft ales on offer from brewers including Hambleton Ales, Roosters and Theakstons.

Visitors had musical entertainment provided by The Temps, Reef Hound and Jaspa, while children who attended with their parents, had a bouncy castle, tombola and Brick Box Yorkshire’s huge quantities of Lego to keep them occupied.

Ripon Cathedral development manager Margaret Hammond, said:

“It was lovely to be able to host this annual fundraising event again after being unable to do so since 2019, due to the pandemic.

“It was a fantastic success and our supporters showed just how loyal they are after a three year gap, many familiar faces joined us again! We have such incredible volunteers and staff who help to make the event possible, thank you to everyone who contributed.”

Wolseley was the main event sponsor and many other local Ripon businesses, advertised in the programme distributed at the event. There was also support from the cathedral’s business partners Brewin Dolphin and Raworths Solicitors.

Rick Jones, owner of Valentino’s Restaurant and the Water Rat gastro pub, once again was integral to the event and has supported the Cathedral since the first beer festival more than ten years ago.

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The Very Reverend John Dobson, Dean of Ripon, has compiled this Christmas message for the Stray Ferret.

Every year, the church celebrates Christmas as a season which offers hope for our lives as they are lived in the real world today.

Based on faith in the indestructible love of the God who sustains the universe, revealed in the down-to-earth achievements of Jesus Christ, this is sure and certain hope which has the courage to face life’s tragedies and lead the world forward from despair.

We know that there is plenty in the world today that might prompt despair. I hardly need mention the ongoing pandemic, which seems to be doubling its efforts to frustrate our determination to celebrate this season with family and friends. But beyond this, as we look forward to 2022, there are economic uncertainties, the challenges of climate change, and the fragility or absence of peace across great swathes of the globe.

And as a result, the growing challenge of desperate people leaving their homelands in pursuit of safety and a better life seems set to intensify. I am proud to be dean in a city where the charity City of Sanctuary UK does such a great job in responding to the needs of refugees.

And you may well be thinking that quite apart from the problems ‘out there’, we are all too aware of innumerable ways in which some, perhaps we ourselves, are suffering. All of this might seem guaranteed not only to prevent us enjoying a happy Christmas, but actually to undermine its message of a loving, down-to-earth God made visible in the birth of Jesus.

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Yet Jesus came to a fallen world beset by no end of failures and problems, to a region that was particularly unstable and threatening. Since then, the church has perceived in his birth the revelation and decisive action of the God of heaven, determined to be down-to-earth and involved.

We might regard this to be a strange way for God to save the world, but St. Paul wrote of God’s foolishness being wiser than human wisdom, and his weakness being stronger than human strength. So, with God, the vulnerable baby lying in a manger in Bethlehem speaks of hope for us all.

The hope is that none of the world’s challenges and failings has the final say. This is hope that can comfort and motivate individuals, unite the nations, and sustainably transform the world for the better. It is hope which stands firm on the foundation of God’s love and his determination to be down-to-earth and with us in every situation.

This theme of hope is celebrated and shared in the Christmas services of Ripon Cathedral where Christians have gathered for 1,350 years, an anniversary we shall be celebrating in 2022. It is celebrated by all churches around the world. The world is better for taking to heart the theme and joining in the celebration.

You are very welcome to join us; you can find full details of what Ripon Cathedral is offering for both worshippers and visitors of all ages on our website here.

Here is a prayer that we are using at the cathedral:

Loving Father, we thank you for the message of hope that Christmas brings to our troubled world. Give hope among the nations, hope in our land, hope in our homes and hope in our hearts; as we remember the birth at Bethlehem of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

I wish you and your loved ones a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year.

Dean John

The Dean of Ripon’s annual banquet has raised £16,000 for the city’s cathedral.

Last year’s event was cancelled due to covid but the 2021 evening of feast and fundraising was attended by 150 guests, including sponsors, local businesses, parishioners and members of the public.

The Very Rev John Dobson, said:

“What a pleasure it was to welcome the guests to the 2021 Dean’s banquet in the spectacular surroundings of Ripon Cathedral.

“For over 1,300 years people have gathered in this sacred space to celebrate life’s joys and blessings. I am extremely grateful for the remarkable levels of generosity that have been shown by the community, particularly over the last year.”

Dean John said thanks for the generosity shown.

The sparking evening was supported by business partners Raworths solicitors, in Harrogate, and wealth management firm Brewin Dolphin, Leeds.

A champagne reception welcomed guests back in to the cathedral once more and a four course dinner, provided by the Yorkshire Party Company, was followed by a live auction conducted by John Tennant and a silent auction.

A number of high value raffle prizes were donated, including dinner for two at Grantley Hall, two cases of wine and a family season pass to Newby Hall.

The prize draw proved popular, raising £1,170 on the night. The vouchers and prizes were donated by local businesses keen to support the cathedral as it recovers from the financial impact of the pandemic.

Guests were entertained by magician Rob Hutchinson and danced to a silent disco wearing headphones.

The date of next year’s banquet will be Friday 14 October to mark the end of the 1,350^th anniversary of St Wilfrid celebrations, which will be taking place throughout 2022.

For further information about how to get involved or to pre-book places contact margarethammond@riponcathedral.org.uk.