St Wilfrid’s procession returns to Ripon this year
Ripon’s traditional St Wilfrid’s procession will be back this summer, after the covid pandemic caused its cancellation for the past two years.
Held in honour of the city’s patron saint, it is one of the largest events in the city each year, usually attracting thousands of people to the streets and Market Square.
The procession’s return on Saturday 30 July means it will be part of the 2022 celebrations marking the 1,350th anniversary of Wilfrid’s founding of Ripon’s ancient cathedral in 672 AD.
Born in Northumbria in 634 AD, the saint’s name can be found on street signs, a primary school, a cafe and a Catholic church in the city as well as in other towns and cities across the country.
It’s 914 years since King Henry I granted permission for the city to hold a fair to celebrate Wilfrid’s birth and Ripon – a city that takes great pride in its heritage – has held on to this tradition.
Procession organisers have kept the tradition alive in a scaled-back way over the past years, with a St Wilfrid Trail in 2020 and a walk around the city last year.
Ripon’s Boxing Day pilgrimage takes place tomorrowIt 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.
Ripon Cathedral’s 1350 programme receives £60,000 boostNext year’s Ripon 1350 volunteer programme is being supported with funding of £60,800 from the National Lottery.
The award, from The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Digital Skills for Heritage initiative, will help Ripon Cathedral to celebrate the 1350th anniversary of its foundation by Wilfrid, the city’s patron saint.
Ripon 1350, which will include a programme of events throughout 2022, is one 17 projects across the UK to receive funding to create digital volunteering opportunities, supporting volunteers to develop and contribute their digital skills.
Some opportunities will be offered online – removing barriers such as place, mobility, time commitments and confidence in returning to in-person activities due to the pandemic.
In turn, heritage organisations will gain the perspectives and skills of ‘at distance’ and on-site digital volunteers including many who may not have had the chance to volunteer before. The impact of the new volunteering opportunities and ways of working will be shared across the heritage sector.
Ros Kerslake, CEO at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting and sharing the UK’s heritage. Thanks to National Lottery players we are delighted to support these trailblazing projects, including ‘Ripon 1350’ as they create exciting new digital volunteering opportunities, helping to break down barriers and inspire the sector to get even more people involved in the heritage they love.”
The Ripon 1350 programme will develop participants’ knowledge, skills, and experience, through digital activities connected to the cathedral’s heritage.
It will provide, for the very first time, opportunities to become a digital volunteer and volunteer remotely. The project will also significantly contribute to the digitisation of the cathedral’s heritage, aimed at attracting and engaging new audiences from the UK and abroad.
The project will expand the cathedral’s current volunteer programme of 100 volunteers, by providing new digital volunteering opportunities in roles such as social media, photography, collections, visitor experience and website development.
Currently many of the cathedral’s volunteers are aged 55 or over, living locally and generally engaging in roles at the cathedral in daytime hours. These roles are difficult to access by those working, those with family or caring commitments, those living outside the area or those without the means to travel.
Volunteers will be trained in the production of digital tours, educational and collections videos, live and pre-recorded lectures and talks, aerial drone film production and social media. Role opportunities include a digital volunteer coordinator – a part/time paid role to manage the project and coordinate, train and support all Ripon1350 digital volunteers
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The story of King Oswald takes centre stage at Ripon CathedralA 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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‘The aim is to make Ripon a more attractive destination’
Ripon has a tremendous opportunity to enhance its reputation and attract more people from this country and abroad over the next five years.
That’s the view of Ripon Business Improvement District chairman Richard Compton.
In June, Ripon businesses voted in favour of creating a BID, which aims to increase footfall in the city.
Ripon BID will have an annual budget of £160,000 over the next five years to spend on projects that encourage visitors. A BID manager is being recruited.
In the meantime, Mr Compton points to a number of positive developments already taking place, including the refurbishment of the Spa Hotel, the reopening of The Old Deanery Hotel under new operators and the imminent opening of the Claro Lounge, on a high street where voids are steadily finding new occupiers.
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Longer-term he sees even greater opportunities.
He said next year’s 1,350th anniversary of St Wilfrid’s founding of the city’s cathedral could provide a springboard to future growth.
Mr Compton, the owner of Newby Hall, whose own family roots in the area go back centuries, sees heritage, history and tradition as cornerstones to build on.
Ripon Cathedral celebrates its 1,350th anniversary next year.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“If our magnificent cathedral was in the Cotswolds, it would attract wide international recognition.
“Next year’s landmark anniversary gives us the opportunity to put Ripon on the national and international map.”
Improve the appearance of the city
Mr Compton said the cathedral, combined with the city’s museums, the ancient Market Square, Fountains Abbey and Newby Hall, provided a package of heritage and visitor attractions that would benefit the wider local economy.
He said:
“The aim is to promote and make Ripon more attractive as a retail and tourism destination and the BID can help in a number of ways.
“These range from improving the appearance of the city and making better use of Market Square as a public space, to enhancing car parking and lobbying for better wayfinding and signage.
“The signs are looking good and I’m feeling confident about the future.”
Ripon pilgrims follow the footsteps of Benedictine monksA group of 90 pilgrims, walked from Ripon Cathedral to Fountains Abbey yesterday – a journey linking two national treasures.
Led by Canon Barry Pyke, the Ripon Together Yorkshire Pilgrimage traced the steps of the 13 Benedictine monks who, in 1132 AD, were the original founders of the abbey.
The cathedral, founded in 672 AD by Ripon’s patron saint, Wilfrid, celebrates its 1350th anniversary next year.
Before setting off at 12.30pm, there was a special service inside the ancient building and prayers for a safe journey on the steps outside, said by the Revd Pyke.
The walkers were supported by police and marshals at road crossings along the route and with PCs Mike Spittleton and Dom Webb of Ripon Police taking part in the three mile walk with the pilgrims.
Pilgrims progress as they approach the gates of Studley Royal Park
Every Boxing Day for 45 years, a pilgrimage between the iconic sites had taken place, until the covid pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 event.
The pilgrimage, was part of the Welcome to Yorkshire, Walkshire programme and linked with Ripon Together’s Healthy Journeying campaign, which encourages people to walk in the local and wider Yorkshire countryside, following the lifting of covid restrictions.
Journey nearly completed – the pilgrims with the abbey ruins in view
The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend John Dobson, has underlined on many occasions the health and wellbeing benefits that people of all ages can gain from walking and cycling.
He said:
“Ripon Together has been promoting walking and cycling for a couple of years now. This was 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.”
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1,349-year-old crypt in Ripon Cathedral reopens to the publicRipon 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.”
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Patron saint will come walking in as Ripon remembers WilfridThe 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.”
While there is no St Wilfrid’s Day procession dominating Ripon city centre this year, Market Square will be a hive of activity on both Saturday and Sunday.
Ripon City Council is staging Yorkshire Day Weekend activities on Market Square.
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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 saint will still have his dayThe covid lockdown is gradually easing, but Ripon’s annual celebration of St Wilfrid and his legacy will be scaled back for a second year.
St Wilfrid’s Day is one of the city’s biggest occasions of the year, marked with events and a large procession pre-pandemic. Thousands of people would line the city streets and congregate on Market Square.
Organisers are planning for a smaller celebration this year while looking to use 2021 as a platform to promote activities next year and beyond.
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.
The St Wilfrid’s Procession committee is in discussions with Ripon City Council about having a presence on Market Square over the weekend of 31 July and 1 August.
Committee secretary Sue 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.”
As part of last year’s scaled-back St Wilfrid’s Day celebrations, the Ripon Morris Band performed at social distance in Church Lane.
The procession committee is planning for actors dressed as St Wilfrid and monks to take the traditional walk around Ripon, along with a pony or donkey on Saturday July 31.
It will end on Market Square, where the council is planning to stage a weekend of activities and entertainment for residents and visitors.
Ms Simms said:
“We hope to have space on Market Square to promote and celebrate our saint’s day.
“The objective is to build interest in taking part as entrants and organisers of the procession in future years.”
Last year celebrations of the city’s patron saint were limited to the St Wilfrid trail, with Ms Simms’ husband Paul, dressed as St Wilfrid, walking the route normally taken by a St Wilfrid actor on horseback, along with floats, Ripon City Band and others.
Across the city, businesses and residents maintained the tradition by putting St Wilfrid displays in windows and gardens.
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Looking forward, Ms Simms would like to hear from anybody wanting to become involved in the 2022 procession. She can be contacted on 07964854006.
In past years, pubs, schools, churches, friends, businesses, shops, streets, social, children’s and sports clubs have taken part.