St Wilfrid’s on Coltsgate Hill, Ripon, has received an amazing early Christmas gift  – an organ worth £350,000.

The Grade II listed church, which is among the city’s architectural gems and described as one of the finest Catholic parish churches in England, has taken delivery of a mechanical action pipe organ, formerly in use at the University of Huddersfield.

Built by JW Walker of Brandon in Suffolk for Castleford businessman Michael Phipps, the organ was subsequently donated by him to the university in 2008 and now, with the assistance of Dr John Rowntree, one of the UK’s foremost organ specialists, it has found a new home in Ripon.

Dr Rowntree, director of music at Douai Abbey in Berkshire, is chair of the British Institute of Organ Studies and the Committee for the Listing of Historic Organs,

Dr John Rowntree (left) and Canon Ian Smith, are pictured in St Wilfrid’s, where the organ will be installed in the loft at the back of the church

He told the Stray Ferret:

“This wonderful instrument is of Grade 1 class and, with its mechanical action, is particularly suitable for playing music from the Bach period.

“It will give a completeness to the restoration of this beautiful church and I look forward to being involved in its installation here in the New Year.”

Parish priest Canon Ian Smith, plays the organ and keenly awaits the day when he has the opportunity take to the keyboards and pedals.

He said:

“It’s a superb instrument and such a generous gift from Huddersfield University. We had to move quickly and, with invaluable advice from Dr Rowntree, all parts of the organ are now here and ready to be reassembled, once we have raised the necessary funding.”

Canon Smith added:

“In making the donation to us, the university had one proviso – saying that its students have the right to visit our church to play the organ. They will be made most welcome,”

Parishioner Barrie Price, who is chair of the church fundraising committee, which has raised £500,000 for an ongoing programme of restoration and development, pointed out:

“The organ is valued at £350,000  and would have originally cost considerably more.

“Its rebuilding and installation cost is quoted at £40,000 and the Leeds Diocese have agreed that we can go ahead for half this figure in the New Year, by loaning the parish the other half.

Mr Price, added:

“We have launched a special organ fund, which is separate  from the Restoration Appeal, which we hope will raise this first half over the Advent period so that it can be installed early in 2024.”

A Catholic church considered one of Ripon’s architectural gems has suffered thousands of pounds of damage after being attacked by vandals.

Canon Ian Smith, parish priest of St Wilfrid’s on Coltsgate Hill, told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s very disheartening for parishioners and others who visit for prayer and quiet reflection, to see the aftermath of mindless destruction.”

He added:

“I don’t know what kind of pleasure they got from throwing stones through windows and damaging roof tiles, but their acts are deeply disappointing to all those who cherish this building.”

Canon Ian estimates the the repair bill for three leaded windows, an internal window in the reception area and roof tiles, will run into thousands of pounds.

The vandalised window in the church reception area

He pointed out:

“The leaded windows are originals that have been in place since the church opened in 1862 and it’s ironic to think that they survived undamaged through world wars and have now been wilfully broken in this way.”

Police were informed about the vandal attack, believed to have occurred between 7pm last Saturday, February 4, and 9am on Sunday, February 5. They have inspected the damage and their investigation is ongoing.

The first phase of a £500,000 restoration of the Grade II* listed building was completed in summer 2021, after parishioners supported an appeal that helped to pay for the refurbishment and renewal works.

In spite of the vandalism, St Wilfrid’s remains open as usual for services and private prayer.

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Read more:

• £500,000 restoration for one of Ripon’s architectural gems
• Wait for glass holds up reopening of Ripon Church

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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.

From facilities designed for the seriously rich to listed buildings of religious and historic significance, the Ripon Civic Society’s design awards shortlist embraces a wide range of architectural splendour.

Grantley Hall, the multi-million pound luxury hotel, fine dining and wellness retreat, is among the contenders in the Best New Building category for the Hazzard Silver Cup.

Grantley Hall is also shortlisted for the best restored building award, where it is competing again, amongst others, St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church at Coltsgate Hill. where renovation was made possible because of the £500,000 raised by parishioners and grant funding.

Opened in 1862, the Grade II* listed building is recognised as one of finest parish churches in England.

The Pugin reredos that provides the backdrop for the high altar at St Wilfrid’s was refurbished as part of the church’s restoration.

St Wilfrid’s is also shortlisted for the society’s Craftsmanship Award, where it again competes against Grantley Hall.

Both face stiff competition in this category from Ripon Cathedral’s Fallen Angels project, which saw the restoration of carvings and canopies in the medieval quire.

Ripon Cathedral’s Fallen Angels project is shortlisted for the civic society’s design awards. Picture: Ripon Cathedral

Grantley Hall is also in the running for The Younge Rose Bowl for Best Environmental Improvement, where it is up against Ripon City Wetlands, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Oscar’s Wood and High Batts Nature Reserve.

Ripon Claro Lounge is shortlisted in the Best Contribution to City Centre Revitalisation category

Contenders for the Taylor plate for Best Contribution to City Centre Revitalisation are the Claro Lounge and apartments in Market Place South, The Magdalens pub in Princess Road and The Water Rat at Bondgate Green.

Society chairman Christopher Hughes, said:

“Our usual biennial awards last held in 2018 have, as a result of covid restrictions in 2020, become quadrennial this year, and whilst we were anticipating a larger-than-usual response we have almost been overwhelmed by the quality and quantity of nominations submitted.

“Over the past few weeks our four judges have been considering and fine tuning a list of over thirty submissions, many of which had award-winning potential.

“Finally, and with not a little difficulty, we’ve arrived at a shortlist of which we are extremely proud and which we believe showcases the remarkable quality of projects in our part of Yorkshire”.

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• The curtain’s up on plans for Ripon Theatre Festival
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The award presentations will take place at Ripon’s Workhouse Museum on the evening of Thursday, April 7.

The winners of two of the awards — The John Whitehead Award for Civic Excellence and the Helen Whitehead Award for Best Project — will be announced on the evening.

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.

One of the Harrogate district’s finest churches is to open to visitors and local residents this week after undergoing a £500,000 restoration.

St Wilfrid’s, on Coltsgate Hill in Ripon, will open from 10.30am to 4pm on Friday for the first in a series of four Heritage Open Days,.

The national programme sees historic places invite people to visit free of charge. The church, which opened in April 1863, is one of this year’s main attractions as it is considered to be one of England’s finest Catholic places of worship.

The grade II* listed building was designed in French Gothic style by the prolific York architect Joseph Hansom, inventor of the Hansom cab.

Features include stained and coloured glass, an imposing altar screen or reredos designed by Edward Pugin depicting scenes from the life of St Wilfrid and other fine statuary, carvings and artwork.

Windows in the tower were replaced as part of the refurbishment.

These include ornate medallions of saints above the nave arches by Salviati of Venice, and the side altar of Our Lady of Fountains, brought  from the private chapel of the Marquess of Ripon  at Studley Royal after his death.

The marquess converted to Catholicism in 1874 – six years before becoming viceroy and governor general of India.

Born at 10 Downing Street, when his father Viscount Goderich was briefly Prime Minister, he was a towering parliamentary figure in Victorian Britain and a major donor to St Wilfrid’s and to Ripon, where he was elected as the city’s mayor in 1897.

An addition to the 158-year history of St Wilfrid’s is a dramatic holograph-style set of stations of the cross, commissioned by a benefactor to the restoration appeal.

Many local people and organisations donated to the fundraising programme headed by parishioner Barrie Price.

This, combined with a Heritage Fund lottery grant, provided the money needed for the restoration and will fund further improvements, among them better access to the church.

Read more:

• Ripon pilgrims walk between two national treasures
• Can you name Ripon’s three Grade I listed buildings?

In addition to Friday’s open day, three more open days will be held on Saturday and Sunday and on Thursday next week.

Entry is via the front door steps or ramp on Coltsgate Hill and parking spaces are available in the church car park, accessed via Trinity Lane.

The Lady Chapel, with its Pugin-designed reredos

For Canon Ian Smith, it’s a welcome return, following a life in lockdown for the parish, though he told the Stray Ferret:

“Our need to use the community centre had a good effect in bringing people closer together and helping them to get to know each other better.

“However, it is lovely to be back and see the church returned to its former glory.”

Fr Smith pointed out:

“The work was made possible thanks to Barrie Price and his fundraising committee, while I also say a thankyou to principal contractor Willoughby’s  who have done a great job.”

The reopening of St Wilfrid’s was originally planned for Easter, but had to be re-scheduled because of a hold-up in the supply of specialised glass to replace windows in the church tower.

Let there be even more light – the new windows in the tower have increased the amount of natural daylight that floods into the church

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Read more:

• Wait for glass holds up reopening of Ripon church
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St. Wilfrid’s, which opened in 1862, is recognised as one of finest parish churches in England.

In 1909, fittings from the private chapel at nearby Studley Royal, were transferred to St Wilfrid’s following the death of  George Frederick Robinson the Marquess of Ripon — the city’s first Catholic mayor since the Reformation and a former Viceroy of India.

A Pugin masterpiece – the reredos screen which provides a stunning backdrop to the high altar

The marquess, who converted to Catholicism, had previously created the Lady Chapel within the church.

The restoration follows years of fundraising by parishioners and awards from trusts, boosted by a £75,000 grant from Historic England.The grant from Historic England will  eventually enable construction of a south porch extension, including toilets, which will come as part of phase two of the restoration programme.

 

The reopening of one of Ripon’s architectural gems is being held up.

The first phase of restoration of St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church was due to be completed by the end of this month. This would have allowed Easter celebrations to be held in the Grade II* Listed Building at Coltsgate Hill.

However, the delayed delivery of specialist glass means the reopening will now not take place until July.

Parish priest Canon Ian Smith told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s frustrating, because we are eager to have the church back in use for services and private prayer.

Pictured in St Wilfrid’s before the start of restoration work are Canon Ian Smith and parishioner Barrie Price, chair of fundraising.

“It is a beautiful building and it will be great to see it back to its former glory.”

While the first element of the £500,000 restoration work has been underway, socially-distanced services have been held in the adjacent St Wilfrid’s Community Centre.

Fr Ian said:

“To meet social distancing requirements, the number of parishioners who can come to services is restricted.

“Parishioners wishing to attend need to book in advance, by calling Anne Storey on 01765 605632.”

In anticipation of larger congregations over Easter, additional seating will be available in a room next to the community centre hall.

Masses taking place in the hall can be viewed on a screen.

Services at St Wilfrid’s are held at 4pm and 5.30pm on Saturdays, 9am and 10.30am on Sundays and 9.15am Tuesday to Friday.

Read more:

• Ripon’s St Wilfrid’s church in line for £500,000 refurbishment
• Ambitious plan to reinstate Ripon to Harrogate railway line
• Ripon delivers tonnes of support 

Work has begun on the £500,000 restoration of St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church — one of Ripon’s architectural gems.

Years of fundraising by parishioners and awards from trusts, boosted by a £75,000 grant from Historic England, have made the project possible.

Parishioner and chair of fundraising, Barrie Price, said:

“After all our trials and tribulations of nearly five years, the contractors came on site to commence phase one of our restoration programme.

“This covers the whole of the central area of the church, excluding the rear section, and is expected to be completed by the end of March.”

St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church on Coltsgate Hill.

The grant from Historic England, awarded after a successful application from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, will enable the construction of a south porch extension, including toilets.

St. Wilfrid’s, which opened in 1862, is recognised as one of finest parish churches in England.

Its ornate reredos screens designed by Victorian architect Edward Pugin provide dramatic backdrops to the high altar and adjacent side altar, dedicated to St Joseph.

Read more:

• Funding boost for Ripon Cathedral
• What did Ripon’s MP do in November?

Both architectural works of art, sculpted from solid blocks of stone, provide focal points within the grade II* listed building.

In 1909 fittings from the private chapel at nearby Studley Royal were transferred to St Wilfrid’s following the death of the Marquess of Ripon — the city’s first mayor since the reformation — who had previously created the Lady Chapel within the church.

These include 10 stained-glass windows installed along the north and south aisles and dating from 1878.