It was cancelled last year because of covid, but tomorrow’s Boxing Day pilgrimage from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey is scheduled to go ahead.

The event, which regularly attracts upwards of 1,000 people, will follow the 9.30am Eucharist service for St Stephen’s Day.

At 10am, pilgrims will set off from the cathedral on the four-mile journey to Fountains Abbey.

Walking at a leisurely pace, they will retrace the steps of the 13 Benedictine monks who were the original founders of the abbey in 1132.

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At the abbey, a carol service will be led by the Dean of Ripon The Very Revd. John Dobson and cathedral clergy.

The pilgrimage between the two iconic heritage and religious sites has been held since 1976.

Sunday’s event will be the second pilgrimage of the year from the cathedral to the abbey.

In September, Ripon Together’s Yorkshire Pilgrimage was held as part of its Healthy Journeying campaign, which encourages people to walk in the Yorkshire countryside for physical and mental wellbeing.

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

Volunteers from charities that support refugees in the Harrogate district held a demonstration on Saturday afternoon to oppose what they describe as a “cruel” government immigration bill.

Harrogate District of Sanctuary and Ripon City of Sanctuary met outside Ripon Cathedral with placards and banners.

They oppose the government’s nationality and borders bill, which was debated in Parliament last week. The bill will make it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK without permission to be here.

The government says the bill will “send a clear message to migrants” thinking about making the “dangerous and illegal” journey.

The BBC has reported that more than 23,000 people have made the crossing from France to the UK by boat so far this year.

However, Nicola David, from Ripon City of Sanctuary, said the bill will criminalise people fleeing persecution and violence in their home countries.

Ms David said:

“We came together in unity.

“We feel the general public doesn’t know about the bill. Many people are horrified.

“What the government is doing is closing down the ability to come to the UK by asylum and only through resettlement schemes.”

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The bill would also allow the government to place asylum seekers in countries outside of the UK while they wait for a decision.

The government says the bill “tackles illegal immigration”.

“It will prioritise those in most need of protection while stopping the abuse of the system.”

A record £25,000 was raised at Ripon Cathedral’s Christmas Gift and Food Fair, as 2,500 visitors braved Storm Arwen to attend the two-day event.

Proceeds from the fair (pictured above), held last Friday and Saturday, exceeded pre-pandemic levels and will help fund the cathedral’s development plans for the future.

As a covid safety measure, pre-bookable time slots were made available online.

Visitors, who came from Yorkshire and further afield, enjoyed a festive atmosphere, with 100 stalls selling seasonal gifts and food.

Aysgarth School Choir, The Yorkshire Decibelles, Knot Another Choir and Emily and Adrian Roberts were among those providing entertainment.

The pop-up cafe’s offerings included hot turkey sandwiches and homemade cakes, along with tea, coffee and mulled wine, all served by cathedral volunteers. Children’s craft activities, a chocolate tombola and a raffle were also available.

The cathedral’s development campaign manager, Margaret Hammond, said:

“The fair marks the start of the Christmas celebrations for the local community. It was wonderful to see so many people back enjoying the spectacular setting of Ripon Cathedral.

“There are so many individuals to thank for helping to make this year’s Christmas Fair such a truly special event: Freda Bottomley, one of our volunteers, along with Dean John and his team of clergy, raised a record £1,600 selling raffle tickets; 70 volunteers manned the door, served refreshments and baked wonderful Christmas Cakes which were sold on the fundraising stall.

“Ripon businesses including Morrisons supermarket provided raffle prizes and provided the mince pies. Soldiers from Claro Barracks helped set up the event and everyone worked incredibly hard and helped in so many different ways to make sure it was a huge success.

“The event completely relies on the generosity of volunteers giving up their time to help raise funds.”

The Christmas Gift and Food Fair at Ripon Cathedral will return this month.

The popular event is usually staged annually but could covid restrictions meant it did not happen in 2020.

This year it will take place for the first time over two days, on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 November from 9.30am to 4.30pm on both days.

There will be 95 stalls offering a wide selection of unusual gifts, crafts and local food.

A pop-up café will serve hot turkey sandwiches, mulled wine, hot drinks and homemade cakes.

Ripon Cathedral

Live Christmas music will be provided by local choirs over lunchtime on both days in the ornate setting of the cathedral’s quire.

The fair is popular with families and although Santa will not be attending this year, there will be craft activities for children, who will be able to decorate a Christmas bauble to take home and hang on their tree.

Harrogate solicitors Raworths and Leeds wealth management firm Brewin Dolphin are supporting the event as part of their business partnership with the cathedral.

Zoe Robinson, managing partner at Raworths said:

“As a business partner, Raworths is delighted to play a part in the preservation and development of the Cathedral and to support local community-based events organised by Ripon Cathedral’s team, such as the wonderful annual Christmas Fair.”

Entry is £5 payable on the door by card or cash or online. Entry for accompanied children is free.

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Ripon Cathedral has hosted the first national memorial service for people in rural communities who have lost their lives in farming accidents or to suicide or other causes during the pandemic.

The ecumenical service led by the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt. Revd. Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, was organised by the Farming Community Network, a charity that supports farmers.

It was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Jo Ropner and officials from the network and the National Farmers’ Union.

Dr Hartley, who is an FCN trustee, said:

“We give thanks for those whose work it is to bring comfort and light, for charities like FCN and its volunteers, for the skilled work of medical staff and our emergency services, for the NFU, and for those who work tirelessly to fundraise and provide vision and leadership to charities and organisations who assist in the farming sector.”

Ripon Cathedral, which hosted a national memorial and thanksgiving service for the farming community.

Hope, unity and the need for people across agriculture to come together in support of one another, as part of a community, were highlighted during the service,  which recognised the experience of loss felt by all those who have been bereaved.

More than 100 attended last Sunday, either in person or thorough live-streaming, to join in hymns and hear readings and personal accounts of those being remembered.

Following the service, NFU deputy president, Stuart Roberts, said:

“The farming community will always be there to support one another. People are at the heart of farming. FCN and other charities are the people who support people – and that’s why they’re so important.”

Mark Suthern, chair of FCN’s board of trustees, also spoke of the need for the community to support one another through the changes ahead for British agriculture.

Farm tragedies

The FCN helps about 6,000 farmers and farming families each year with a wide range of issues, including mental health, family disputes, animal disease and financial concerns.

The network’s chief executive, Jude McCann, said:

“The farming community knows all too well the pain that comes following a death due to a farm accident or other tragic circumstance.

“Many of us will know someone personally who has been affected by a farm accident, a death by suicide, cancer, or other tragedies that leave lasting impacts on farming families across the UK.

“We would like to thank everyone who attended, took part and helped to organise our Remembrance Service. We hope it provided an opportunity to recognise those who have died as well as provided support and comfort to those who have been bereaved.”

Anybody who is struggling, or knows somebody who is and would like to speak with someone who understands the pressures of farming life, can contact the FCN on 03000 111 999 (7am-11pm every day of the year) or at help@fcn.org.uk.

Calls are confidential and non-judgemental.

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Ripon Cathedral will play host to a concert this coming weekend to raise money and awareness for a local mental health charity.

Wellspring Therapy and Training, which is based in Starbeck, provides affordable counselling to people suffering from mental illness.

Harrogate concert pianist Julian Saphir and soprano Eleanore Cockerham, a former member of internationally-acclaimed singing group VOCES8, will star in the November 12 concert, which is called A Night to Remember.

They will be joined by local choirs and performers, including Nidd Chorale, Unity Voices, Harrogate Theatre Choir, and St Aidan’s School Chamber Choir.

The concert also aims to raise awareness by exploring themes of memory and thanksgiving.

Concert Co-ordinator, David Moon, said:

“This event is a wonderful opportunity to explore and experience the power music has on our mood and raise money for Wellspring, which is providing a vital wellbeing service in our local community.”

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Referrals to Wellspring shot up during covid, forcing the charity to temporarily suspend its waiting list. Operations have now returned to normal and the charity has supported over 700 people in the last year.

Sarah James, therapeutic lead for the charity, said:

“Our counsellors are frequently working with adults who present with depression, anxiety, trauma, loss, relationship issues, low self-esteem, emotional abuse, loss of confidence and stress. Many people we support have been signposted to us for more in-depth/long-term therapeutic work that is too expensive for many people to fund for themselves.”

The concert begins at 7pm on November 12. Tickets start at £12 for adults and £5 for children, and are available online here.

A focus on Christian and Norse culture will be brought to a dramatic conclusion at Ripon Cathedral this evening.

At 7.30pm, the Hazelsong Theatre group will perform Whiteblade, featuring the 7th century Northumbrian King Oswald who was made a saint for his defence of the Catholic faith.

Subtitled ‘King Oswald, the Sword and the Cross’ it tells the story of a courageous man who pre-dates Wilfrid, the founder of Ripon Cathedral.

Andy Bates of Hazelsong, said:

“Seventh century Britain was a time of turmoil and warfare, where pagan fought Christian and Saxon battled Briton.

“In this time arose a great king, bearing both the blade and the cross, to fight for the people and the soul of the kingdom.”

Hazelsong Theatre group set off on Thursday’s dragon parade with musical accompaniment from The Brothers Gillespie

Those wishing to attend the performance can book free tickets on the Ripon Cathedral website.

Prior to tonight’s performance the legend of Sigurd the dragon slayer and Fafnir the dragon slain by the Viking warrior, takes centre stage.

A second dragon parade with a puppet of Fafnir, will set off from the cathedral today at 12.30 and make its way through city streets to the band stand at Spa Gardens.

Before then, between 9.30am and 12 noon, people will be able to visit the cathedral to make dragon sock puppets.

The famous Norse tale of the warrior and the dragon was represented in music and song on Thursday.

Local musicians were invited to bring their own instruments and join in music making at the cathedral

The Sigurd legend, which dates back more than a thousand years, was marked with a recital led by The Brothers Gillespie – James and Sam – who had earlier invited local people to join them and Hazelsong in an impromptu music-making session.

The Sigurd Stone

Next year the cathedral celebrates its 1350th anniversary and in the ancient building’s treasury is the Sigurd Stone – believed to have marked the tomb of a Norse settler who was buried in Ripon.

The prized and unusual artefact, combines Christian imagery in the shape of a cross and Norse mythology, depicting the warrior and the dragon.

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Actors bring Norse legend to life on Ripon’s streets

A Norse legend involving dragons and a Viking warrior will be brought to life in Ripon by actors next month.

They will tell the story of Sigurd, the dragon slayer, who has a link to the city through a stone dating back to the 10th century.

Known as the Sigurd Stone, It is widely thought to be part of the grave of a Norse settler, who died in Ripon.

The prized and unusual artefact, which is kept in the cathedral’s library and treasury, combines Christian imagery in the cross-shape and Norse mythology, with its image of the Viking warrior.

Sigurd’s story will be told in words and song on November 4 and 6 when performers from Hazelsong Theatre, with their six-metre long dragon puppet, parade around Ripon before performing a new piece of theatre in locations across the city.

Part of the Sigurd Stone at Ripon Cathedral. Picture: The Megalithic Portal

The theatre group is offering music workshops, sock puppet making and free performances to encourage families.

The team is also looking to collaborate with folk musicians to perform new pieces of music about the story during a free lunchtime concert. More details can be found on the cathedral events page here.

The performers in action. Picture: Hazelsong Theatre

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.