There was laughter and tears at St Michael and all Angels’ Church in Littlethorpe near Ripon this morning, as family and friends gathered to celebrate the remarkable life of Sylvia Grice, who died last month at the age of 90.
Every seat in the village church, where she worshipped for 31 years, was taken, as warm thanks were given through prayer, poetry and hymns for decades of dedicated service to the community, in which she taught an estimated 250,000 local people to swim. The family invited the Stray Ferret to attend.
In addition to teaching a skill for lifelong enjoyment and one which can be used to save the lives of others, she was a stalwart supporter of charity, raising funds for the church, Saint Michael’s Hospice and Yorkshire Air Ambulance, to name but a few, through her famous garden parties, where she sold a wide array of items that she baked.
Today’s funeral service was led by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson (pictured),
In the eulogy given by the Revd Canon Michael Glanville-Smith, he said:
“It’s difficult to know where to start when talking about a woman who touched so many lives in so many ways.”
But with help from Sylvia’s daughters Alison and Helen, he was able find out and share at least one anecdote that many attending the service may not have heard before.
He pointed out that when she received her MBE for services to swimming in 2011, from the then Prince of Wales:
“She told the future King Charles about the benefits of swimming and even offered him a lesson if he ever ventured north!”
In 2019, the former Barnardo’s girl, who spent her early school years living at Red House — the charity’s children’s home on Palace Road — was awarded the Freedom of the City of Ripon for her services to the community.
From humble beginnings, she became one of Ripon’s best known and loved citizens and Dean John reflected on Sylvia’s life-long achievements, when he said:
“We have lost somebody who was very precious.”
Felling trees for Ripon Cathedral expansion presents ‘moral dilemma’, says Dean
The Dean of Ripon has said plans to remove trees from Minster Gardens to make way for a new £6 million cathedral building presented a “moral dilemma”.
The Very Revd. John Dobson presented the cathedral’s annual review on Saturday.
It addressed plans to fell 11 trees, including a beech listed by the Woodland Trust as having veteran status, to create space for a two-storey building on the gardens to the north of the ancient building.
The proposed annex development, which includes a song school, refectory, accessible toilets, shop and additional storage space, is part of the Ripon Cathedral Renewed project which aims to safeguard the future of the cathedral.
The Dean said all possible options for the location of the annex had been considered.
In a leaflet given to parishioners and members of the public who attended on Saturday, Dean John said:
“We regret the need to fell 11 trees and are sympathetic to public concern. There is a moral dilemma though which requires balancing this with urgent needs and undeniable benefits.”
“Providing 21st century facilities is not only essential, but will help to attract more visitors to the cathedral and thereby to the city.”
He added:
“Ripon Cathedral attracts 100,000 visitors per year, in addition to pilgrims, worshippers and concert goers. Experts predict that this project will result in an increase in numbers of between 30% and 50% — good news for the local economy and local businesses.”
The Dean acknowledged not everybody was in favour of the development and said:
“Some people here today will disagree with us about the felling of trees. We respect those people, but we disagree with them.”
Jenni Holman, who has raised a petition signed by 1,400 people opposing the removal of trees to make way for the annex, said:
“The loss of mature trees and impact on the wildlife that depend upon them for habitat is totally unacceptable.
“This is not about a difference of opinions, it’s something that we say is just wrong.”
As part of its mitigation strategy, the cathedral proposes to plant 300 native trees on land near Studley, but fellow objector Pat Waterfall questioned:
“How will the planting of trees outside the city mitigate for the huge carbon footprint of the new building?
Councillors on North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon planning committee are expected to adjudicate on the application this year.
The newly-appointed Bishop of Ripon received a warm welcome at a special choral evensong service yesterday.
For the Rt Revd Anna Eltringham the service, at which she and six others were installed as canons of the cathedral, provided an opportunity to meet for the first time with civic dignitaries from across the region and the cathedral’s clergy, choir and members of the congregation.
The service, attended by the Bishop of Leeds the Rt Rev Nick Baines and the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Ms Johanna Ropner, saw the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson carry out the installation ceremony in the quire (pictured below).
Bishop Anna’s consecration took place at York Minster in June, but she did not fully take up her new post until this month. when she and her family moved north from Surrey, where she was part of the Oxted team ministry in the Diocese of Southwark.
The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Ms Johanna Ropner, pictured following yesterday’s service with the Bishop of Leeds the Rt Revd Nick Baines and the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson.
Bishop Anna, who studied business and anthropology at Durham University, said in April after her nomination was approved by Downing Street:
“I have felt drawn back to the north of England for a number of years and have a strong sense of God’s call to this particular role.
“God has laid a number of things on my heart in recent times, including a passion for climate-care and justice; care for the wellbeing of clergy and all God’s people; a vision for a church that serves as much beyond as within its buildings; and children and young people at the heart of it all.”
The Bishop of Ripon is one of five episcopal area bishops in the Church of England Diocese of Leeds and has responsibility for a large area, including the Yorkshire Dales and the towns of Ripon, Harrogate, Settle, Skipton, Wetherby and Richmond.
Sun shines as hundreds of Ripon pilgrims walk to Fountains Abbey
St Stephen’s Day in this busiest of years for Ripon Cathedral started with a Eucharist service, followed by a leisurely four-mile walk to Fountains Abbey.
The annual Boxing Day pilgrimage linking the two internationally famous and historic religious sites has been taking place in all weathers since 1976.
Bright sunshine and clear skies saw hundreds of pilgrims participate in this morning’s walk, following a procession led by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson and children, who took it in turns to carry a cross along the way.
The pilgrims on the start of their journey head up Kirkgate.
With celebrations during 2022 to mark the 1,350th anniversary of the cathedral’s foundation by Wilfrid, this year’s walk had an added significance. as the pilgrims again retraced the steps of the 13 Benedictine monks who were the original founders of the abbey in 1132.
A group of pilgrims arrive at Fountains Abbey
At the abbey, the hundreds who completed the walk from the cathedral were joined by hundreds more (pictured below) for a carol service held in the cellarium.
The service included readings, prayers and traditional carols, with musical accompaniment provided by the Stray Brass Ensemble.
Ripon Cathedral to play a central role in mourning The Queen
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.
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.”
Sun glinted off the many chains of office hung around the necks of dignitaries attending the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee service in Ripon today.
The great and good had gathered for the North Yorkshire Civic Service at the city’s ancient cathedral, which is itself in celebration mode as it marks the 1,350th anniversary since being founded by Wilfrid, who went on to become Ripon’s patron saint.
The service in honour of Her Majesty took place some 37 years after she visited the cathedral with her late husband Prince Philip to hand out Maundy Money to church workers and volunteers,
The Very Revd John Dobson, the Dean of Ripon, led the service and key moments within it were performed by the Archbishop of York the Most Revd and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell and the Rt Revd the Lord Bishop of Leeds Nick Baines, as well as the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Mrs Jo Ropner and the High Sheriff of North Yorkshire, James Lambert.
The unmistakable Harry Gration who attended this morning’s service.
Among the congregation, was Harry Gration, the retired presenter of BBC TV Look North, who is a deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Cllr Sid and Mrs Linda Hawke, pictured with Valeria Sykes.
From the business world, Valeria Sykes, owner of Grantley Hall hotel and wellness spa, was present and posed for a photograph with the newly-installed Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon, Cllr Sid Hawke and his wife Linda.
Ripon’s MP Julian Smith on his way in to the cathedral.
Local and national politics was represented, with the city’s Conservative MP, Julian Smith and Cllr Andrew Williams the Independent leader of Ripon City Council both present.
Cllr Williams, who was also elected by a landslide margin to the new North Yorkshire unitary authority, attended with newly-elected city councillor Jackie Crozier. They are pictured below.
Cllr Williams, told the Stray Ferret:
“It is absolutely marvellous to see Ripon host the civic service for the county in this very special platinum jubilee year.
“As a city, we are extremely proud of our royal roots and with events at the cathedral, Market Square and Spa Park, all elements of the community and people of all ages, are coming together over the extended Bank Holiday. to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event.”