Just 13 weeks ago, the bells at Ripon Cathedral rang out in joyous celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, but today the bells were muffled as they rang out for an hour at midday to mark the passing of the UK’s most enduring monarch.

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson, led the jubilee civic service for North Yorkshire held at the cathedral on June 2, which was attended by the great and the good of the county.

From today and over the period of national mourning, the doors of the iconic church, founded 1,350 years ago by St Wilfrid, will be open to all, who wish to pay their respects to Her Majesty.

This can be done by signing the book of condolence in the north transept, through private prayer, by attending a service or leaving flowers.

Dean John, told the Stray Ferret:

“Back in June, we marked 70 years of The Queen’s magnificent service, now we come to celebrate her life and pray for her family.”

In a message on the cathedral’s website, he said The Queen was:

“One of the world’s greatest figures of our time, one who dedicated her life as monarch to the wellbeing of the people of this nation, the commonwealth and the wider world.

“She was a faithful Christian who drew on her faith to serve God and the common good in the role that God had given her.

“She wasn’t pious and didn’t let her exalted status unduly affect her. She reigned with great integrity, as seen in the images of her sitting alone at the funeral of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. She was a great servant of her people and an unequalled example of public service over the last century.”

The cathedral, which the Queen visited in 1985 for the Royal Maundy Service, has been the focus of celebration for its 1,350th anniversary since April, attracting visitors from across the region as well as overseas.

Over the coming days it is ready to welcome visitors, who wish to make their own tribute and reflect on Her Majesty’s remarkable reign.

Today, there will be an Evensong Service at 5.30 and a Vigil Service at 8.15.

The Cathedral will be open daily from 8am.

The Great North Art Show, which was due to begin at the cathedral tomorrow, is being postponed.

Prayers will be said at Ripon Cathedral tonight for her Majesty the Queen after her doctors expressed concern for her health.

Early this afternoon doctors issued a statement saying the 96-year-old Queen’s health was a concern and that she was comfortable at Balmoral.  Members of the royal family have travelled to Scotland to be by her side.

This evening at Ripon Cathedral, evensong prayers will be said for her majesty and the royal family.

The Bishop of Ripon, the right reverend Dr Helen-Ann Hartley issued this statement:

With so many others across the world, I send my prayers, thoughts and very best wishes to Her Majesty The Queen and all members of the Royal Family at this time of deep concern about Her Majesty’s health.

Our Cathedrals and churches in the Diocese of Leeds are open for people who want to gather in quiet contemplation, to light a candle if that is your tradition, and simply offer their own words, silent or spoken, and their thoughts.

As Archbishop Justin, the Archbishop of Canterbury has tweeted, ‘May God’s presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family, and those who are caring for her at Balmoral’.

Ripon’s residents, day trippers and tourists, are spoilt for choice when it comes to heritage attractions in the city and surrounding villages that they can visit.

Top of the hundreds of historic buildings and sites in the area is Ripon Cathedral, founded in 672 AD by Wilfrid, the city’s celebrated patron saint.

Ripon and District Light Railway

Within earshot of the iconic building’s quarterly clock chime is a light railway with engines, track and station, that can be found in the canal-side garden of Neill Clayton on Dallamires Lane.

Ripon & District Light Railway – a project developed over 36 years by Mr Clayton and a small group of rail and engineering enthusiasts –  is among 14 locations that can be visited free of charge as part of the Heritage Open Days programme being promoted by Ripon Civic Society  (RCS) in partnership with Ripon Business Improvement District.

Details of the programme, which runs from  September 9 to 18, can be found by clicking here.

Ripon Cathedral will provide central tower tours as part of the programme of Heritage Open Days

The cathedral, dating back 1,350 years and the railway, with its component parts gathered from the Victorian and Edwardian periods, are the oldest and youngest heritage gems in a treasure trail of locations representing different aspects of the religious, social and economic history of the Ripon area.

Included among the locations that will be open to visitors is another church that bears the name of the city’s patron saint.

St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church on Coltsgate Hill, is considered an architectural masterpiece with its Pugin-designed reredos and classic stained glass among many spectacular features in the Grade II* listed building.

The Heritage Open Days at the church will run from 10.30am until 16.30, except for Sunday September 18, when the times will be 11.30 until 16.30.

The Chapel of St Mary Magdalen

Just half a mile away, another religious establishment – the Chapel of the Hospital of St Mary Magdalen, built in the 12th century to care for people suffering from leprosy – enjoys the same Grade I listed status as the cathedral and 82-foot Ripon obelisk.

The stand-out structure on Market Square, features in the open days programme on September 13 when people are invited to gather there at 11am for a guided walk and talk about Ripon’s former industries, led by members of RCS.

Tourism and trains

Among the city’s different industrial sectors, tourism has been a key element of the city’s economy since the 1800s when Fountains Abbey was established as a visitor attraction.

The opening, in 1849, of the Leeds and Thirsk Railway, increased accessibility to the area and in 1902 a scheme was promoted to link Ripon Railway Station on North Road, to the city centre and Fountains Abbey with a narrow gauge electric street tramway.

Mr Clayton, pointed out:

“Sadly, the scheme did not come to fruition because of fears about costs and the disruption that would be caused in laying tracks through medieval streets.”

He added:

“While the plan came to nothing, it provided the inspiration for our venture and we look forward to giving those who come to our open days on September 11 and 12, an insight into what might have been, by showing them a static display.

“Unfortunately, as we are weather-reliant, we can only proceed if it is not raining and we are not allowed to provide rides for members of the public.”

Because of  the size of the site, visitors will be shown around in groups of up to six.

The other locations involved in the Heritage Open Days are: Clifton Castle (near Masham), The Ruin, St James and the Methodist Church (Grewelthorpe). St John’s Parish Church (Sharow) and, in Ripon: the Courthouse and Workhouse museums, The Gazebo, Masonic Hall and Grammar School Library.

Ripon Cathedral is being urged by the city’s heritage watchdog to re-think its £6 million proposal to build on the gardens across the road from the iconic building.

The cathedral has been consulting on plans to erect a two-storey standalone building on parkland adjacent to the Old Courthouse Museum.

The building would include new toilets, a refectory, a gift shop and storage space.

But Ripon Civic Society chair Christopher Hughes told the Stray Ferret:

“We are not convinced that the proposed building is the necessary and only way to achieve the new proposal for a north side development.

“Therefore, we have been unable to give it our support.

“After extensive discussions and a breadth of informed opinion the response has been delivered to the cathedral authorities.”

Ripon Civic Society supports closing Minster Road but opposes the development on Minster Gardens.

Mr Hughes added:

“We agreed that development on the north side of the cathedral is preferable and that we support closure of Minster Road, but Minster Gardens is a significant open space for the city and has always been so.

“We consider that redevelopment of this has not been fully taken into account in the new proposal. Accordingly we strongly encourage re-examination of the stone yard land in cathedral ownership and production of an alternative building design.

“The stone yard is where we contend that a significant part of the cathedral’s accommodation requirements needs to be met.”

The north side proposal was put forward as an alternative to a previous plan for an extension built onto to the south of the cathedral.

Addressing  last month’s meting of Ripon City Council, the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd. John Dobson said it was important to provide 21st century facilities that could serve the needs of parishioners and the growing number of visitors to the ancient building, which is celebrating its 1,350th anniversary this year.

He said:

“I hope that the city council will stand shoulder to shoulder with us in supporting a development that will benefit the Ripon economy by bringing more visitors.

“While coming to enjoy the splendour of the cathedral, they will have the opportunity to visit the many attractions that Ripon has to offer.”

Read more:

• Dean underlines the economic benefit to Ripon of cathedral proposal
• What does the Ripon Cathedral plan entail?

Residents in Ripon are being asked to nominate people who they feel make a positive contribution to life in the city.

The St Wilfrid’s Stars scheme has been designed by the organisation Ripon Together to thank “those people and organisations who do so much for Ripon”.

The Very Reverend John Dobson, Dean of Ripon and chair of Ripon Together (pictured above), said:

“Ripon is an incredible city, full of wonderful people who do so much for the community.

“Many are volunteers who give much of themselves, and also receive much in return, enjoying what they do. There are also many organisations vital to our life.

“None of these individuals and organisations do what they do in order to gain recognition. But this shouldn’t stop us wanting to express our gratitude by recognising them in this way.”

This year marks the 1,350th anniversary of the building of the cathedral’s crypt by St. Wilfrid, whose symbol is the star.

The plan is to display a star in the cathedral for each person or body nominated.

Read More: 

Simon Hewitt, Ripon Together director, said,

”We want to fill the cathedral with stars, but that can only happen if people nominate those they believe should be recognised.

“The same person or body can be nominated in several different categories and people can make as many nominations for different people as they want.

“The point is to nominate all those we wish to thank, not just those we think might win in any category.”

As well as volunteer of the year, there’ll be awards in the following categories:

Business – A business or individual who has demonstrated a significant achievement in the development of their business during the past year.

Community – An individual who has made a difference to local people or the wider local community.

Culture – The organisation or individual who has made a significant contribution to cultural activities in the Ripon locality.

Sports – An individual who has excelled in their sport during the past year.

Tourism – The organisation that can demonstrate a significant contribution to improving the locality’s offering as a tourism destination over the past year.

Environment – An individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution to protecting or improving the environment during the past year.

Youth – The young person (up to 18 years of age) who has demonstrated a significant achievement during the past year.

Nomination forms can be obtained from the cathedral, the library and Community House on Allhallowgate, or downloaded here.

They can be returned to the same places or emailed to info@ripontogether.com.

The deadline for nominations is August 31.

In this 1,350th anniversary year for Ripon, full celebrations for the city’s patron saint are making a return for the first time in three years.

Covid lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, meant that there was only limited activity organised in those years by the St Wilfrid’s Procession Committee to keep the tradition alive.

But on Saturday, the parade, which attracts thousands to the city’s streets, will be back in force – starting on Studley Road at 1.30pm and finishing at Ripon Cathedral at 4.15 – where a service will be held,

The 24-stage parade timetable and route, which will see numerous temporary road closures, can be seen by  clicking here.

The St Wilfrid parade will finish at Ripon Cathedral, where a service to celebrate the city’s patron saint will be held at 4.30.

Led by an actor on horseback, playing the role of St Wilfrid, the parade will be accompanied by the award-winning Ripon City Band and will include decorated floats with designs created by businesses and organisations.

Held on either the last Saturday of July or the first Saturday in August each year, the St Wilfrid’s Parade is a unique event, whose origins date back to 1108 when King Henry I granted a royal charter to the City Of Ripon to hold an annual fair.

St Wilfrid is celebrated as the man, who in AD 672, founded the church in the location where Ripon’s iconic cathedral now stands and the stonework in the crypt, dating back to that year, is the oldest remaining building remnant to be found in any English cathedral.

Ripon City Council event

While the revelry is on-going around Ripon’s streets, the city council is marking a much more recent tradition on Market Square from 2pm on Saturday.

The Celebrating Yorkshire Day event starts at 2pm with free fairground rides for all the family, a climbing wall, face painting and Punch and Judy shows.

At 6pm, local singer songwriter Freddie Cleary, kicks off an evening of free musical entertainment and he will be followed  on stage by tribute acts, either side of the 9pm setting of the watch ceremony performed by one of the Ripon hornblowers.

Read more:

• A year of celebration for Ripon’s Patron Saint
• Ripon businesswoman shows the art of restoration

The Dean of Ripon has asked city councillors to ‘stand shoulder to shoulder’ with the cathedral and support its plans for a £6 million development.

Ripon Cathedral is hosting an exhibition of the plans in the north transept until the end of July.

They include building a two-storey standalone building on parkland adjacent to the Old Courthouse Museum and near the Garden of Remembrance installed by the Ripon branch of the Royal British Legion.

The building would include new toilets, a refectory, a gift shop and storage space.

Speaking at Monday’s full council meeting, the Very Revd. John Dobson said it was import to provide 21st century facilities that could serve the needs of parishioners and the growing number of visitors to the ancient building, which is celebrating its 1,350th anniversary this year.

Dean John said:

“I hope that the city council will stand shoulder to shoulder with us in supporting a development that will benefit the Ripon economy by bringing more visitors.

“While coming to enjoy the splendour of the cathedral, they will have the opportunity to visit the many attractions that Ripon has to offer.”

The plans are on display in the north transept at Ripon Cathedral.

The proposed development across Minster Road would also, he said, provide space for choristers to practice, as well as accommodate meetings of members of the cathedral congregation and the wider community.

Dean John told councillors:

“I’m pleased to report that we are having our best-ever year in terms of visitor numbers but as the cathedral’s reputation grows locally, regionally, nationally and even internationally, there is a need to provide modern-day facilities — particularly for those who come from afar.”

He said the Benedictine rule that guided Wilfrid in his work establishing the church in Ripon in AD 672 involved extending the hand of hospitality to visitors but, ironically, more than 1,300 years later the cathedral lacks the facilities to fulfil this mission.

Dean John added:

“I would like to thank those councillors who have already taken time to look at the proposals and we would welcome any of you who haven’t seen the plans to come and have a look and let members of the team know your views.”

Councillor Pauline McHardy said she supported the proposals and added:

“It will include the city centre’s first Changing Places toilet, making this magnificent cathedral more accessible to people with disabilities.”

Read more:

• Ripon Vision Support receives £7,000 boost from mayor’s appeal
• Ripon’s Spa Baths to be returned to its former glory

One of Ripon’s busiest thoroughfares will be closed daily between 7am and 5pm for six days from Friday, to enable North Yorkshire County Council to carry out repairs and resurfacing works.

Minster Road, which runs past Ripon Cathedral, along with St Mary’s Gate, are part of an inner-city route that many road users take if travelling to Cathedral Primary School,  Aldi, Marks & Spencer food store, and homes on Residence Lane and those accessed off Priest Lane.

Signs, including ones for a diversion route that takes in Allhallowgate, Stonebridgegate, Magdalen’s Road, Rotary Way and the Ripon bypass have been put in place by NYCC.

With the St Mary’s Gate and Minster Road in their present condition, some motorists have been making their own diversionary route to avoid the potholes.

Stewart Readman, used a steel tape measure to emphasise the size of potholes on St Mary’s Gate.

Among them is Ripon resident Stewart Readman, who contacted the Stray Ferret in April to express concern about the state of the city’s roads.

At that time, he said:

“St Mary’s Gate and Minster Road are particularly hazardous and both my daughter and I had to have springs replaced on our cars because of damage caused by the potholes.

“Since then, it’s a route that we have avoided.”

St Mary’s Gate is currently a patchwork of temporarily filled-in potholes.

Read more:

With the road repairs and resurfacing due to start in four days, Mr Readman said this morning:

“I will be keeping a close eye on this work, but there are still many other roads in Ripon that also need to be attended to.”

The repair and resurfacing works will be carried out from the junction of Priest Lane with Allhallowgate and St Mary’s Gate and on Minster Road.

A resident, who lives on St Mary’s Gate, added:

“We’ve waited a long time for this pothole problem to be sorted out and I just hope that they make a good job of resurfacing the road

“Hopefully it will be up to the same standard as the resurfacing work on Cathedral Car Park, where the contractors did a great job.”

Read more:

• Could a pothole machine be the answer to Ripon’s rocky roads?
• Smooth operators earn praise for Ripon car park resurfacing work

The phrase ‘I care about where I live’ is a guiding principle for Ripon Civic Society (RCS) as it looks to the future of a growing city.

The organisation that aims to protect and enhance Ripon’s heritage assets for the benefit of all, is currently formulating its views on the new £6 million plans for the cathedral, the city’s most important and iconic building.

Society chair Christopher Hughes, told the Stray Ferret:

“We have, of course, been looking closely at the proposals and will have our response in due course and hope that residents and visitors will look at the plans and make their views known as well.”

While the ancient building is the city’s dominant feature, RCS, now in its 54th year, is encouraging citizens to play a role in shaping  the Ripon of the future.

Speaking at the Civic Day 2022 awareness and recruitment event on Market Square on Saturday morning, Mr Hughes, said:

“We start with the simple proposition of ‘I care about where I live’ and look at what this means in helping to make the city an even better place.

“By the 2030s, Ripon is likely to grow by a quarter and we need to ask questions such as ‘what do we value of the city’s past?’ and ‘what is at risk?’

“That leads on to keeping a watch over vulnerable buildings and threatened trees and how we can enhance the green, blue and natural environment.”

Mr Hughes, added:

“We are not here to say ‘no’ to development, but to encourage those who are investing in Ripon, from retail to residential, to aim for the best possible design, with use of materials sympathetic to the city’s built and natural environment.”

RCS played a key role in setting up the Ripon Museum Trust 40 years ago, establishing an organisation that has developed the Workhouse, Prison & Police and Courthouse museums as linked heritage attractions, that bring the city’s history to life.

While protecting and promoting heritage, the society also had an eye to the future when it supported the construction in the 1990s of the city bypass, which helped in the development of the Dallamires Lane employment zone, where many businesses are based.

RCS has a healthy membership of 150, but welcomes new members and those who want to attend events as non-members. Further details are available at info@riponcivicsociety.org.uk.

Read more:

• See who won the Ripon Civic Society’s design awards?
• Top bands tune up for Ripon charities

Eight Ripon-based charities are set to benefit from what promises to be a tremendous Transatlantic evening of entertainment in the city on Thursday (June 23).

The famous world championship-winning Black Dyke Brass Band, will be joined by the multi award-winning Lake Wobegon Brass Band from St. Olaf, Minnesota, USA in a concert being held at Ripon Cathedral.

As the bands and the cathedral are waiving their customary fees, all proceeds from the sale of tickets will be divided equally by the charities.

They range from Dementia Forward, which provides support, advice and wellbeing services for people living with dementia, to Ripon YMCA, which offers supported housing for young people aged 16-35 and space for community groups and projects to meet.

The other beneficiaries are: Jennyruth Workshop, Ripon City of Sanctuary, Ripon Branch of Christian Aid, Ripon Community Link & The Walled Garden, Ripon H.E.L.P, and Ripon Salvation Army Food Bank.

The award-winning band is travelling from Minnesota and playing free of charge to help raise money for eight Ripon-based charities. Picture: Lake Wobegon Brass Band

“We are looking forward to a Transatlantic treat, with a fabulous evening of musical entertainment provided by these two magnificent bands.

“Through their tremendous generosity in agreeing to perform without charging a fee, the eight charities, which support so many different aspects of life in Ripon, will gain maximum benefit from the event.”

Events sponsors are Ripon Cathedral, and Phil and Wendy Wilby.

Tickets, at £20 for adults and £5 for children under 16, are still available in the Ripon Cathedral Shop, or online at the Ripon Cathedral website.