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.

Read more:

• Ripon toy shop relocates
• State of Ripon roads comes under the spotlight

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.

A 500-year-old misericord in Ripon Cathedral depicting a fox has been restored.

The choir of the cathedral has a set of 32 misericords created by master carver William Bromflet in the 1490s.

The misericords, which are small seats, gave clergy the opportunity to rest from standing during worship.

The fox is thought to have lost its nose and arms at some point during the last 100 years.

The restoration by Henning Shulz is the final part of a wider conservation project of the medieval choir stalls.

A post on the cathedral’s social media said:

“We are delighted to see the return of this freshly restored misericord (mercy seat for perching on during long services), which depicts a fox preaching from the pulpit to an assembled congregation of birds – his prey.

“This was a common motif in the middle ages, warning against travelling preachers who would lead their flock astray for their own gains.

“At some point this fox lost his arms and then, sometime in the last century, his nose. We know this from a 100 year old photograph which shows the fox ‘armless’ but with his nose.

“These seats are 500 years old and in daily use – remarkable survivals from our medieval past.”

Read more:

• The Lark Ascending to provide soaring return for Ripon orchestra
• New shop and bar openings in Ripon centre today

A charity wellbeing and fitness event is being held in the grounds of Ripon Cathedral today to bring the community together after the pandemic and raise funds for the city’s YMCA branch.

Participants will be able to take part in yoga, meditation, dance fitness and Clubbercise, which will be led by local personal trainers and fitness instructors, who have given up their time for free, as well as enjoy head massages from Head to Toe Healing.

Read more:

• Ripon Curzon cinema to reopen this month with James Bond film
• Ripon Arts Hub re-opens with first performances

Wellbeing Day for the YMCA will take place in the Dean’s Garden from 2-4pm and currently has more than 40 people signed up.

Louise Jones, who owns Oliver’s Pantry, on North Street, and is one of the organisers, said:

“We are holding it to raise funds and awareness, our objective was to have some fun and bring people together and to also help some of our local yoga and PT instructors promote what they do.

“Also from a mental health and wellbeing aspect, these activities really do help so many people locally. So it’s about feeling great, having some fun, coming together and simply seeing people together – knowing after lockdown many have struggled with coming back out in to normality.”

Four 30-minute sessions will be provided by:

Nicola Lymer – yoga (Exhale Fitness)

Frayah Humphries – Essential Yoga with Frayah

Hayley Anderson Fitness – Clubbercise

Edina – dance fitness (M-Unity)

To book a place email events@riponymca.org The suggested donation is £20 and participants should bring a mat, blanket or towel, and a drink.

Ripon’s Old Deanery Hotel is to reopen with a focus on wedding receptions and events.

The historic property, which neighbours and is owned by Ripon Cathedral, closed in March after months of lockdown due to covid.

Now it is being prepared for reopening by new occupiers Layton Hill Hotels Ltd, which operates the Galtres Lodge Hotel close to York Minster in the city’s Low Petergate.

The company was formed in May 2018 by Christopher Layton and Rebecca Hill.

In a social media post announcing their plans for the iconic Grade II listed building, Ms Hill said:

“We’re going to run it as wedding/events venue.

“It has 11 bedrooms, a huge lawn and loads of public rooms – restaurant, function rooms, reception rooms etc.

“Seems we like cathedral cities and the Old Deanery is opposite the beautiful Ripon Cathedral.”

Having obtained the keys for the property, the two Layton Hill directors are organising a deep clean in readiness for an opening date that will be announced later.

Refurbishment work in progress at the Spa Hotel

Across Ripon, refurbishment work has begun at the Spa Hotel, which was purchased in June by The Inn Collection Group.

Headquartered in Northumberland, the group now owns four sites in Yorkshire in a portfolio of 24 locations across the north of England.

The company says that the Spa Hotel:

“Will remain closed while a major but sympathetic refurbishment is carried out to enhance and repurpose the venue and bring it in line with The Inn Collection Group’s award-winning ‘Eat, Drink, Sleep and Explore’ brand.”

Read more:

• Civic society display focuses on Ripon’s Spa Quarter
• What’s coming soon to Ripon’s high street?
• The Old Deanery in Ripon goes back on the market

Sean Donkin, managing director of The Inn Collection Group, said:

“The Ripon Spa is a fantastic addition to our portfolio of properties. It has huge potential which we have an exciting vision to realise. We’re looking forward to starting that journey while expanding the group’s footprint in Yorkshire.

“The Inn Collection Group excels at revitalising classic, landmark sites like The Ripon Spa and realising their full potential with significant capital spend, detailed planning and care to retain the unique, historic character of landmark sites such as this.”

In a third boost to the city’s economy, café-bar-restaurant operator The Loungers Group has confirmed that its Claro Lounge, currently being fitted out on Market Square South, will open on September 15.

Ripon Cathedral’s crypt, which is the oldest surviving building in any English cathedral, reopened to the public today.

The Anglo-Saxon crypt, which is the highlight of many people’s visits to the cathedral, was built by St Wilfrid as part of the stone church he erected in the 670s. It is believed to be a copy of the tomb in which Jesus’ body was laid after crucifixion.

The crypt has been closed to the public since March last year due to covid but is now open to visitors between services from 9.30am until 5pm.

Next year will mark 1,350 years since the construction of the crypt in 672.

Joe Priestley, marketing officer at the cathedral, told the Stray Ferret some clergy had occasionally used the crypt for private prayer and services during the last 17 months but its small confines were not compatible with social distancing requirements. He added:

“People do find it to be a very moving space.”

Read more:

• Join the pilgrims walking from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey
• Ripon A-Level student who battled tumour aims to become a doctor

The not-for-profit group Ripon Together has organised a mass walk called the Yorkshire Pilgrimage from the the city’s cathedral to Fountains Abbey next month.

Like the Boxing Day pilgrimage between the iconic religious sites, which has been staged for 45 years, walkers will trace the steps of the 13 Benedictine monks who, in 1132 AD, were the original founders of the abbey.

The pilgrimage, which takes place on 4 September, is part of Walkshire series of walks organised this year by the tourism organisation Welcome to Yorkshire, which encourages people to discover the county’s great outdoors.

It is also part of  Ripon Together’s Healthy Journeying campaign to encourage people to walk in the Yorkshire countryside, following the lifting of covid restrictions.

The Ripon Together Yorkshire Pilgrimage will depart from the cathedral at 12.30pm on September 4.

The walk will be led by Canon Barry Pyke, of the cathedral, and will take approximately an hour at a leisurely pace.

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend John Dobson, said:

“Ripon Together has been promoting walking and cycling for a couple of years now.  This is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Ripon and across the region to walk together from the oldest cathedral in the country to Fountains Abbey, one of Yorkshire’s World Heritage Sites.

“Ripon Together is devoted to improving the wellbeing of people in Ripon and the area. I am delighted that people are uniting to encourage healthy journeying and urge people from across the area to join us in the pilgrimage.”  Further walks and cycle routes can be found at https://www.ripontogether.com/healthy-journeying/.”

Book in advance

Justin Scully, general manager at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal said:

“The past 18 months have been tumultuous to say the least, so we’re delighted that the long-running tradition of a pilgrimage between Ripon Cathedral and Fountains Abbey is taking place in September.

“We know that the pilgrimage, which normally takes place on Boxing Day, is much loved by our community and we were so disappointed that we couldn’t run the event in 2020.”

The Yorkshire Pilgrimage is free to take part in, but to ensure a safe journey Ripon Together needs to know the numbers attending in advance.

Tickets for the event are available through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pilgrimage-from-ripon-cathedral-to-fountains-abbey-tickets-158397195275.

For those who cannot access that link, paper numbered tickets are available from Ripon Cathedral and Fountains Abbey visitor centre.

There are three food outlets at Fountains Abbey.  Cakes and liquid refreshments will also be available on the Abbey Green.

Read more:

• Classic art meets contemporary at Fountains Abbey
• Ripon Together organises a summer of free play for children

Music will be provided at the abbey by Ripon City Band, which is one of the country’s leading brass bands.

They will perform two sessions, including Yorkshire pieces, finishing at about 3.30pm.

The covid pandemic has put paid to official celebrations in honour of Ripon’s patron saint, but St Wilfrid will still be represented on the city’s streets on Saturday.

The tradition, which goes back decades, is being kept alive in the hope that things will be back to normal next year.

Sue Simms, secretary of the St Wilfrid’s procession committee, said:

“Our unofficial St Wilfrid walk is going ahead.”

Actors playing the parts of the patron saint, his monks and followers, will leave from the Spa Gardens gates at 2pm.

The walkers will head for Market Place, North Road, Princess Road, Allhallowgate, Kirkgate, Bondgate, Harrogate Road and finish back at Market Place.

The gate at Spa Gardens, where St Wilfrid walkers will gather at 2pm on Saturday before their tour of the city.

Until 2019, St Wilfrid’s Day was one of the city’s biggest occasions of the year, marked by events and a large procession.

Thousands of people would, pre-pandemic, line the city streets and congregate on Market Square.

In addition to causing the cancellation of the 2020 event, the covid lockdowns also affected this year’s activities.

Organisers are looking to use Saturday’s walk as a platform to promote festivities for next year and beyond and will be handing out leaflets along the route.

As well as being the 1,350th anniversary of St Wilfrid founding a church on the site of Ripon Cathedral, 2022 marks the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

In May, Ms Simms told the Stray Ferret:

“We did not feel running a large-scale procession this year would be a responsible choice.

“The situation was complicated by the fact that we would have needed to start applying for road closures back in October.

“Because of the coronavirus crisis, we couldn’t plan ahead with any degree of confidence at that time.”

Ripon City Council is staging Yorkshire Day Weekend activities on Market Square.

Read more:

• Fundraising campaign for Ripon’s Walled Garden
• Another councillor has concerns about Ripon Leisure Centre

These will include free children’s fairground rides, musical entertainment from 5.45pm on Saturday and a fireworks display.

On Sunday, there will also be an artisan Market starting at 10am on the square.

Ripon’s famous hornblower ceremony has taken on a new international angle.

When the 9pm ritual returned to Market Square for the first time in 16 months on Monday, Patricio Maglio was unveiled as a new member of the team.

Mr Maglio, who was born and bred in Argentina, told the Stray Ferret:

“When I saw there was a vacancy, I just had to apply.

“It’s an absolute honour to be part of this rich Ripon tradition, which is part of the history of this fantastic city.”

The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, with the city’s hornblowers – from the left: Alison Clark, Richard Midgley, Wayne Cobbett and Patricio Maglio

Mr Maglio, who moved to the UK 13 years ago, works in the corporate team at Asda’s Leeds headquarters.

He and Ripon-born partner Rebecca live within earshot of the nightly blasts of horns that will now signal the nightly setting of the watch on the city’s ancient Market Square.

Covid social distancing requirements and lockdowns meant that the hornblowers had to perform behind closed doors for more than a year.

But, working on a rota basis, they did not miss a single night and maintained a tradition dating back to 886 AD.

The four hornblowers brought the 9pm ritual back to Market Square on Monday

After the newly-enlarged team played their part in the ceremony, they shared details of the history of hornblowing and their respective instruments, with a crowd of appreciative onlookers.

Read more:

• Halls of Ripon a hit with shoppers
• Olympics just days away for Ripon’s star diver

This included the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, who said:

“We’ve now got a fab four and it’s great to have the hornblowers back and able to perform in public.

“As well as being a part of Ripon’s heritage, they play an important role in attracting visitors to the city.

“For citizens and visitors alike, the setting of the watch each night, should make us all feel a little safer.”