Building work has begun to create Harrogate’s first mosque, which could be open in time for Ramadan next Spring.

The building on the corner of Tower Street and Belford Road has stood derelict for several years but Harrogate Islamic Association is bringing it back into use.

Around 100 Muslim worshippers, from a diverse range of backgrounds, currently meet in the Quakers’ Friends Meeting House in Harrogate and Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough.

Unique project

Converting a former hospital, masonic hall and home guard club into a mosque has to be one of the most interesting building projects in Harrogate.

After completing the sale in May, there have been some nasty surprises.

The roof was in a much worse state than previously thought and then partially collapsed, which could have thrown the whole project into doubt.

Interior image of the building

Thankfully, the collapse hasn’t damaged the integrity of the walls, leaving workers able to press on with repairing the roof.

HIA member Zahed Amanullah said:

“There was a concern that the roof was degraded so much that we’d have to replace it, which we hadn’t anticipated and would be prohibitively expensive. Even logistically, we weren’t sure replacing the roof would even be possible.

“But a roofer gave us another opinion that has meant it can be saved. We just needed to progress with removing the actual tiling of the roof, investigating which parts are damaged, then restoring it.”

Read more:

• ‘Over the moon’ as sale completes on planned Harrogate mosque
• Harrogate Islamic Association confident of mosque purchase as deadline looms

Getting it watertight

Scaffolding has now gone up around the building and will remain there for the next two or three months whilst roofers make sure the building is watertight ahead of winter.

Work will also take place to smarten up its exterior and will include adding a new render and restoring the windows.

Mr Amanullah hopes the ground floor will be safe and clean by the end of this year so it can open for some congressional prayers.

He said the HIA may need to fundraise again to complete the upper level of the building, but he is confident all the uncertainty and hard work will be worth it in the end.

He added:

“Developers wanted to demolish it and I don’t think the building would have survived another winter. The collapse was quite dramatic.

“Our main goal is always the next Ramadan in March and April. That would be our goal to open for worship.

“We’re confident. It was a big risk to take.”

Harrogate Islamic Association will be posting updates about the project on its Twitter account.

Harrogate Islamic Association has said it is confident of raising enough money to buy the former Home Guard Club and convert it into the town’s first mosque.

A price of £500,000 was agreed to buy the building, which is on the corner of Tower Street and Belford Road, before the association obtained planning permission.

The current owner set a deadline of Monday next week to complete the sale.

The group already has several hundred thousand pounds set aside to buy the building but does not yet have enough to pay the full asking price.

After planning permission was granted last month by Harrogate Borough Council, the association launched a crowdfunding campaign to help raise the extra money needed to buy the building as well as for much-needed repairs, setting a target of £200,000.

With days to go until the owner’s deadline, the crowdfunder is currently on just £18,000.

However, Zahed Amanullah, a member of the association, said there was no risk the deal could fall through because it had loans in place to cover any shortfall.

Mr Amanullah said:

“We are on our way to getting the money. It’s not all reflected in the crowdfunding campaign, which we’re extending to the end of April, which is the month of Ramadan, and will be used to pay back loans.

“We’ve been raising money from other sources, such as pledges from the community directly.

“Where there might be a shortfall, we have people to loan us the difference, so we can pay them back. Our intention is to make the payment in time with a combination of loans and crowdfunding.”

Read more:

• ‘Community goodwill’ helped to overcome anti-mosque campaign, says Harrogate Islamic Association

• Plans for Harrogate’s first mosque approved

• Malcolm Neesam History: the colourful past of what could become Harrogate’s first mosque

The association, which was set up in 2011, has been looking for a permanent home for several years, with previous attempts at securing a site falling through. Around 100 Muslim worshippers currently meet in the Quakers’ Friends Meeting House on Queen Parade.

The association also organises prayer sessions at Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough.

Mr Amanullah said once the group has the keys to the building, the immediate focus will be on repairs and restoring original features.

All being well, it could open to the public by the end of the summer.

Reminders of the desperate plight of the embattled people of Ukraine have been evident across Ripon in recent days.

From the Rotary Club of Ripon collection at a bustling Market Place, to the contemplative silence of churches, there have been opportunities for residents to provide financial support, pray, or both.

On Rotary Way, customers at the Marks & Spencer food store are being invited to make a donation when they pay for their shopping. Similar collections are being held at other Ripon shops and businesses

Further down Rotary Way, an iconic image from another war provides a simple and moving message of support for passing motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

The silhouette of the First World War soldier and his sweetheart has had the blue and yellow ribbons of Ukraine added along with a posy of flowers of the same colours.

The Our Lady of Fountains Altar at St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, where The Pope’s prayer for peace can be seen

At St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church on Coltsgate Hill, the altar of Our Lady of Fountains is decked in yellow and blue. The altar also displays the prayer for peace of Pope Francis.

The altar was bequeathed to the church by the family of the 1st Marquess of Ripon, a man known for his kindness and compassion, who died in 1909.

The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin and his consort Nigel Guy (right), are pictured with Ali Edwards (centre) her partner Lizzie, and some of the 40-plus people who attended the fundraising event

Ripon’s Lewis Edwards, who escaped Kyiv late last month with his Ukrainian partner Tanya Bogdanovska and is now in Slovakia, spoke via his mobile phone to family, friends and supporters gathered at a fundraising event held at the Magdalens pub on Saturday evening.

Mr Edwards told attendees at the packed venue, how former Harrogate soldier Mike Heelan had arrived safely in Slovakia to lend an extra experienced pair of hands to the 10-strong team, which is helping refugees seeking sanctuary in countries across Europe.

The event, hosted by the pub’s owners, the Mayor of Ripon Councillor Eamon Parkin and his consort Nigel Guy, raised more than £1,300, which be will added to £16,000-plus already raised through donations to the gofundme page set up by Mr Edwards’ family.

St Robert’s Catholic Primary School in Harrogate has raised £504.98 for a Ukraine humanitarian appeal by selling crafts and old school uniforms.

St Robert’s has a large number of Eastern European children so the school wanted to do something to help at such a difficult time.

Mum Catherine Maguire made Ukraine-inspired crafts, including painted stones, cards, bookmarks, ribbons, pom-poms and cupcakes.

The school also donated all proceeds from a school uniform sale held at the same time to the Ukrainian disaster appeal run by the Catholic aid agency Cafod on behalf of the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Some of the crafts that were on sale

Ms Maguire said:

“It’s about showing our support for them and their families. It’s not just about raising money”.

The school also created a prayer tree where children could write prayers on a sunflower and hang them.

Read more:

• Ukraine crisis: Guide to how you can help locally

• Ukrainian couple in Harrogate speak of fears for family under Russian fire

Headteacher Jill Collins added:

“St Robert’s Catholic Primary has lots of children from different countries and especially eastern European countries. We want to extend our love and support to our families who have relatives in Ukraine and nearby countries.

“The fundraising event is small way of letting people know we are truing to help and support in any way we can.”

Thankful for support

Ukrainian couple Taras and Viktoriia Jakubiak, whose daughter Isabella attends St Robert’s, said they were thankful to everyone at the school for holding the fundraiser, which took place on Friday afternoon.

The Jakubiak family at the fundraiser.

Mr Jakubiak also spoke about his fears for close family members who are encircled by Russian forces in Ukraine and unable to flee.

Read the full article here.

Harrogate Borough Council has approved an application to convert the former Home Guard club in Harrogate into the town’s first mosque.

The building on the corner of Tower Street and Belford Road has stood derelict for several years but Harrogate Islamic Association plans to bring it back into use as a place of worship for Muslims.

The association, which was set up in 2011, has been looking for a permanent home for several years, with previous attempts at securing a site falling through. Around 100 Muslim worshippers currently meet in the Quakers’ Friends Meeting House on Queen Parade.

The association also organises prayer sessions at Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough.

Sustainable travel

The planning application was submitted in December and received 107 letters of support and 68 objections.

Several objections said the Mosque would increase traffic in the area and that there would be a lack of car parking spaces, but these points were dismissed by council officer Arthama Lakhanpall in his report.

He wrote:

“The site is well connected to transport links and lies within a sustainable location for travel and access. It would promote walking, cycling and sustainable travel in this town centre location. It would therefore be accessible.

“There is no requirement for the proposal to provide off-street parking provision, although the site benefits from nearby short stay and long stay parking areas including the West Park pay and display and multi-storey car parks, and on-street parking on Belford Place, Belford Road and Victoria Avenue.”

The council tweeted the news this morning.

We know there has been a lot of interest surrounding planning application 21/04557/FUL (conversion of vacant former home guards club to place of worship).

We can confirm approval was given (subject to conditions) today under delegated powers. pic.twitter.com/BdMBtQXmWd

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) March 4, 2022

The HIA will run religious, community and charitable events at the building. It will also support Syrian and Afghan refugees who have moved to the area.

Read more:

• Malcolm Neesam History: the colourful past of what could become Harrogate’s first mosque
• Harrogate district church leaders back mosque

Whilst the HIA has obtained planning approval, the next stage is raising money to purchase the building from the current owner.

£200,000 fundraiser

It hopes to raise £200,000 and has set up a fundraising page here where people can donate.

Harrogate Islamic Association said:

“We are grateful to everyone in the Harrogate community who supported us, including those at Harrogate Borough Council who engaged with us regularly to alleviate any concerns during the process.

“We view this as a success for everyone in Harrogate, not just ourselves. We can’t wait to welcome one and all for a cuppa.

“Our next step is to raise the balance of funds necessary for us to purchase the property outright. Although we have raised most of what we need, we had a number of pledges that were dependent upon planning permission being granted.

“So for the next 30 days, we will be collecting these pledges, inshallah. We are also re-launching a crowdfunding campaign to make up the difference.”

Persistent morning rain did not deter a hardy group of pilgrims from maintaining a Boxing Day tradition in Ripon.

More than 100 people made the four-mile journey from the city’s ancient cathedral to Fountains Abbey.

Walking at a gentle pace, wearing waterproofs, raincoats and with some carrying umbrellas, they retraced the steps of the 13 Benedictine monks, who set off from the cathedral on Boxing Day 1132 to become the original founders of the abbey.

Pilgrims walking along Kirkgate at the start of their journey to Fountains Abbey

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The annual pilgrimage, which began in 1976, was cancelled last year because of covid, but with smaller numbers than usual taking part this year, the event was safely staged, as walkers covered the route in small groups.

The pilgrims, carrying a cross, were led on the walk to the abbey by the Dean of Ripon, The Very Revd. John Dobson (pictured below, second from left) with five fellow walkers.

At the abbey, the cellarium, with its vaulted roof (pictured below) provided shelter from the elements for a carol service led by the Dean and cathedral clergy.

The service provided a heart-warming finale, full of festive cheer for the pilgrims.

Some say it with flowers, others express it in verse and it is a central theme of popular music and hymns.

The theme of love will take centre stage today – and it’s a special occasion for Ripon Cathedral, too.

Valentine’s Day comes a week before the first Sunday of Lent and Ripon Cathedral will feature in a special edition of Songs of Praise on BBC One at 1.15pm today. The pre-recorded programme focuses on the theme of Love and Lent.

Love and Lent will be in focus at Ripon Cathedral in a special edition of Songs of Praise

It includes a discussion between presenter Sean Fletcher and the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, who told the Stray Ferret:

“I reflected that often in Lent it’s popular to give something up.

“This Lent, because we have all lost so much in the past year, it’s an opportunity to take something up, to put on, as it were, the mantle of love

“We can be mindful of our neighbours and loved ones near and far.”

Dr Hartley said she reflected on the connections between Lent and lockdown. Although the former lasts just 40 days, it recalls Jesus’s 40 days in the wilderness.

Similarly, though lockdown leaves many people feeling isolated, Dr Hartley reflected that nobody is alone, even if it can feel that way.

Asked why Ripon Cathedral is so special, having been chosen as the venue for tomorrow’s programme, Dr Hartley said:

“Cathedrals have a profound sense of place and identity and are buildings where people can come and find God and be found by God.

“What makes Ripon special is its 7th century crypt, and that sense of people over hundreds of years coming to this place, making pilgrimage and praying.

“There’s a real strength in that for us today.”

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On a personal Valentine’s Day note, Dr Hartley is anticipating the continuation of a much-loved tradition with her husband Myles.

She said:

“He always declares Valentine’s Day ‘a season’!

“We will exchange home-made cards and enjoy a meal at home.”

Harrogate Borough Council’s practice of reading Christian prayers before meetings is exclusionary to people of other faiths, says the National Secular Society.

When the full council meets, the mayor’s chaplain Rev Michael Gisbourne leads a Christian prayer before it begins, as he did when councillors met virtually last week. The prayer began by saying: “Lord our God from whom all wisdom and understanding comes.”

Except for a brief spell in 2015, HBC has been holding Christian prayer before meetings since the council’s inception in 1974.

But Judy Audaer, who is a member of the National Secular Society’s council and was brought up in Harrogate, says HBC should stop the practice for good.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“By holding prayers, HBC imposes religious worship on people there and gives out a message that they are excluding people who don’t wish to be involved in prayer. At a time when we are trying to increase diversity, it gives out the wrong message. Prayers should have absolutely no part in council business.

“Why does HBC lack diversity? Perhaps because people are getting the message that it’s a set up for Christian people. Harrogate hasn’t got an enormous ethnic minority population, but you would want to see more diversity, and this really doesn’t help if they feel they have to participate in Christian worship at the start of proceedings.”

According to the latest census in 2011, 68.6% of the population in the Harrogate district identify as a Christian, 22.5% as having no religion, 0.4% Muslim, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.2% Jewish, 0.1% Hindu, 0.1% Agnostic and 0.1% Sikh.

The majority of councils hold Christian prayer before meetings, as does the House of Commons and House of Lords.

Read more:

• Harrogate Muslims identify new site for district’s first mosque
• Nidderdale vicar’s plea to parishioners: ‘Book early for Christmas’

In 2015, the government passed a law that gives councils the right to hold prayer before meetings, but the practice has been controversial in some places, with North Somerset Council dropping it last year because “it does not give a voice to our wider community”.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Harrogate Fairfax, Chris Aldred, told the Stray Ferret that Christian prayer is a tradition the council should keep:

“I know many people see it as an anachronism, but I actually think traditions survive for a reason and if it does a little good and no harm should be continued. I am often thankful for these few moments of calm and reflection prior to what are sometimes argumentative and heated debates.”

A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“The Local Government (Religious Observances Act) 2015 allows councils to hold prayers at the start of meetings. Councillors and members of the public are not expected to participate and are free to leave the council chamber or remote meeting during the saying of prayers.”

A Nidderdale vicar has called on parishioners to book early for Christmas services to avoid disappointment.

Places of worship are allowed to re-open today although people can only interact with their households or support bubbles, and must conform to social distancing rules.

With Advent underway and Christmas approaching, many Christians will be keen not to miss out on festive services.

The Rev. Alastair Ferneley, Vicar of Dacre with Hartwith and Darley with Thornthwaite, said the church was keen to offer comfort and joy after such a difficult year but added:

“We do need to maintain social distancing, so it is essential for people to book in advance for most of our services.

“My message is, please book sooner rather than later for the public Christmas services – not just to avoid disappointment, but also to help our planning.

“If it turns out no one wants to come to a particular service we can save a lot of time and effort on decoration, Christingles, heating, etc.”

Booking in advance for Christmas services across four Nidderdale parishes will help with planning.

The Rev. Ferneley said churches needed to consider issues such as appropriate seating for families and bubbles. He added:

“Parishioners will need to wear a face covering in church and we are sadly not able to sing as a congregation while inside, though we can offer carols sung by a few socially distanced singers and/or on CD.”

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The government has issued new guidance, saying carol singing outside can be part of public worship.

The Rev Ferneley said:

“This is difficult to plan for given the unpredictability of the weather, but we may be able to begin and end services outside so we might have a bit of a sing as part of some of these services.

“We will fully understand if people are not comfortable with coming to services at the moment, which is why we are also offering numerous online alternatives whereby people can join in our Christmas celebrations – either via a live stream or a pre-recorded service.”

For further details you can email Alastair Ferneley at irreverend@btinternet.com.

A  church bell is being rung in the heart of Nidderdale each evening throughout November, as the power of prayer is harnessed during the pandemic.

With communal worship banned during lockdown, Christians are being encouraged to participate in a month of reflection in their homes, focusing on issues of national concern arising from the coronavirus crisis.

The Rev. Alastair Ferneley, Vicar of  Dacre with Hartwith and Darley with Thornthwaite, is ensuring that Nidderdale’s daily tea-time chime joins those ringing out at cathedrals and churches across England.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I’m ringing our single bell at Holy Trinity, Dacre Banks at 6pm each evening – so far successfully on time, though it’s possible the time will vary a little.”

Read more:

• Nidderdale’s first steps towards welcoming a refugee family
• Hamper competition helps mayor’s appeal in Pateley Bridge

The call for a daily collective moment of national prayer signalled by the sound of bells, has the support of senior religious leaders from many different denominations.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said:

“We might understandably feel helpless, anxious and vulnerable. And we do what we can to halt the spread of this virus – but we can still feel powerless.

“Is there anything else we can do? Really do?

“Yes. Yes there is. We can pray. Prayer is my first response when I feel out of my depth, when I need help, when I am worried, when I am concerned for those I love.

“It is a gift that God gives to all.”

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, added:

“At this challenging time when all of us are fearful and anxious, and when so many are suffering, it is the one thing we can all do.”

Nidderdale – taking part in the national call to prayer

Christians are being encouraged to follow a seven-day prayer cycle, praying for a specific area each day, including the NHS and frontline workers, the bereaved, and those struggling with physical and mental ill-health, and for children and young people.

Prayers and other resources are being shared on social media with the hashtag #PrayerForTheNation

Rev Alastair is keeping his parishioners updated. He said:

“I’ve been sending out the information about the month of prayer so that people can take part in their own homes, if they wish.”