From the Aire to the Wharfe

We have had some beautiful Spring weather over the last few days here at Kildwick. We have had some warm sunny days and after Sunday it is good that the evenings are a little longer and I have been able to get out and do a bit of gardening. Hearing the weather forecast this lunchtime and hearing about the wet and windy weather which is forecasted I feel, with regret, that my wonderful display of daffodils will soon be taking a battering. Taking advantage of a lovely bright sunny day I went on one of my favourite walks- albeit a little further afield than Kildwick. I love the walk between Hubberholme and Yockenthwaite in Upper Wharfedale alongside the infant Wharfe. It was good to see the lambs skipping about in the fields and see the buds coming on the trees although, as one of my photograps shows, one tree along side the river had become a casualty of winter. I love this walk and looking at the remains of the lead mine remind me that at one time this valley may have been much busier than the tranquil spot it is today.

Last week's talk as part of the CDFC Lent course was really interesting. Mahmood Miah, an Imam, gave a very well presented and informative talk about Islam. I learnt so much about this faith and Mr Miah answered the many questions afterwards with sensitivity and courtesy.

This week Dr Lewis from Bradford University's Peace Studies department will be speaking and the week after Hanneke Dye a member of Bradford Hebrew Congregation will speak about Judaism.

Hope 'Springs' Eternal

Looking at the picture below, taken at the back of Skipton Castle, not too long ago, and then referring to my diary, it seems hard to believe that this coming Sunday sees the start of British Summer Time. However Spring has sprung and when the sun shines it is cheering to see the countryside and gardens resplendent with spring flowers. The season of Lent started with a joint Ash Wednesday service at St Thomas' Sutton.
The Crosshills and District Fellowship of Churches Lent Course 'Interfaith Relationships' started last Wednesday- again at Sutton. There was a very good attendence to hear a Buddhist nun speak about the Buddhist faith. It was very interesting and she seemed to radiate tranquilty and happiness- things really neeeded in this modern world. This coming week Mahmood Miah, Imam and Chaplain at HMP Holme House will be speaking about Islam. In future weeks a member of the Bradford Hebrew Congregation and a teacher of Hinduism will be talking about their faiths.
The church received bad news this weekend about the Jigsaw project in Manila. There has
been a huge fire in the Visayas slum area that Jigsaw works in and where the office is located. Hundreds are now homeless. The Jigsaw centre is working hard to provide shelter, food and emotional support. Apparently their funds are very low and so it was wonderful that Sue, Rosie and Sylvia and their helpers raised the magnificent amount, once again, of over £800.00 for the work of CMS and Jigsaw at their Valentine coffee morning.
The special collection during Lent is in support of WaterAid and collecting pots are available in church.
The Annual Meeting of Parishioners and the Annual Parochial Church meeting is scheduled to take place after morning service on 10th April. There are so many vacancies this year- eleven to serve in various capacities- with people coming to the end of their terms of office, some having left the parish, some standing down and not offering themselves for re election and some for vacancies which have not been filled in previous years.
From 'The Bridge' monthly magazine; 'To share in the leadership of the parish is an important function and everyone is encouraged to prayerfully consider if they are being called to serve in this way'
We hope that all whose names are on the church electoral roll and as many other memers of the church community as possible will come to our Annual meetings'
Members of the congregation who have felt so cold many times, in the past during the winter months and those who have come with rugs and in some cases hot water bottles! would be pleased to read in the weekly news sheet an update regarding the church heating. Apparently work has been carried out on the present system to ensure the burner unit operates at its maximum design capacity and a thermostat has been fitted in the heating chamber and a new timer clock in the belfry to enable the fans to switch on and off automatically according to air temperature in the heating chamber. This will make the overall system more efficient than before. There are plans that, during the summer months, the fan units will be removed and serviced. The PCC are continuing their discussions with the church architect about options for a new heating system.

So seasons come and go but nothing stays still

and soon the dark days of winter will be just a memory and spring will give way to bright summer days. Henry Neele, writing in the early 1800s, wrote the following words which I really like. and find very encouraging

'Suns will set and moons will wane, yet they rise and wax again. Trees, that Winter's storms subdue, their leavy livery renew.'

Snow, Rain, Walks and Cheese!

Taking advantage of a fine day and a clear road- the snow having melted and disappeared quite quickly and finding myself suffering from a severe deprivation of cheese- I set off to Hawes and the Wensleydale Creamery to replenish stocks. Driving north I could see that winter was certainly lurking around and having left Horton and Selside behind there was plenty of snow at the side of the road and Ingleborough and Whernside were covered.

As I travelled towards Hawes snow clouds were gathering as I looked towards the distant Buttertubs pass- that road which affords such a magnificent view of Swaledale on the other side.
If snow was lurking in the northern dales within a few days our valley bottom was just a lake-stretching from Keighley to Carleton -as heavy rain had fallen continuously and the River Aire had overflowed its banks.

Walkng over Kildwick Bridge when the waters had somewhat abated I thought what a contrast the two bridges spanning the Aire were. The old stone bridge- Grade 1 listed- dates from the 14th century and is the oldest in the Aire Valley.

Widened in 1780 the older part is fundamentally that which was built by the Canons of Bolton Priory and carried the main route for monks from Bolton Abbey across the River Aire towards Lancashire. Built of rough stone its northern arches are pointed while the two main spans are segmental. An entry in the accounts books of Bolton Abbey dated 1305 reads 'In the building of a bridge at Kildwick £21.12.9.' I wonder how that compares with the cost of the modern bridge which was built in the 1980s ,when the village of Kildwick was bypassed, and I wonder which will stand the test of time!

One or two things to report from the weekly notice sheet. Last week at Kildwick the preacher was the Reverend Michael Cowgill- it being the start of 'Christian Unity' week. This Sunday I attended another church which had held its service for 'Unity' at the end of the designated week, and it was wonderful to see this church absolutely packed. On the 30th January the service at Kildwick celebrates 'The Presentation of Christ in the Temple' and Christingles will be distributed. On the 12th February Sue, Rosie and Sylvia and helpers are holding their 'Valentine' event- proceeds for CMS and the Jigsaw project in the Phillipines. This is in the Parish Rooms and entry is free but donations will be gratefully received.

On the 9th March- Ash Wednesday- there will be an evening service of Holy Communion with the Imposition of Ashes at St Thomas', Sutton in Craven and the Lent course will commence at 7.30pm on 16th March- again at St Thomas.

The Christmas collections raised the sum of £894.94 which will be shared between St George's Crypt in Leeds and 'Help the Heroes'.

'Back to it'

After a brief lull when the temperature actually rose to a balmy 5 degrees and in serious need of some good fresh air I managed to get out for a walk at the beginning of the week. Looking down into the valley there was no sign of snow but in the distance, it being a very clear day, I could see the top of Ingleborough with its icing sugar topped summit. That should have warned me not to be too complacent for sure enough this morning I awoke to another blizzard and another covering of snow. As I write I cannot see down the valley- just a thick fog of snow, and everything is again covered in a white blanket. Apparently, so the forecasts say, it has to turn to

rain and by Sunday may be a little warmer. I
hope so- I have things to do and people to
see and walks to walk!
The weather ineveitably had an effect on the services over Christmas at St Andrew's but last Sunday, I understand, saw many people, who had been mising over Christmas, back in the pews and also one or two visitors- which is always encouraging.

On the 16th January as part of the 'Week of Prayer for Christian Unity', the Crosshills and District Fellowship of Churches has organised the usual 'pulpit swop'. At Kildwick The Reverend Michael Cowgill, vicar of nearby Sutton in Craven will be welcomed. Michael has always something interesting to say and usually in a down to earth and humourous fashion.

On the 30th there will be a Parish Communion with Christingles.

Looking further ahead on the 16th March the Fellowship of Churches' Lent courses begin. The venue has to be decided as the usually hosts- St Peter's Crosshills -have been the victim of burst pipes etc which have done quite a bit of damage.

The local Baptist church is celebrating its three hundreth anniversay in 2011 and various events have been planned.

It has been announced that the Right Reverend Nick Baines is our Bishop designate . He is currently Bishop of Croyden in the District of Southwark and will probably begin his ministry in Bradford in the Spring. He actually gained a degree from Bradford University, so he is familiar with the city, and he is renowned for his media expertise and is a broadcaster and writer and writes almost daily in his blog 'Musings of a restless Bishop'.

If anyone actually reads all my ramblings I thank them and wish them all the very best for a happy, healthy and peaceful 2011.

Happy Christmas from St Andrew's Kildwick

Christmas greeting from a very snowy and cold Kildwick.

I think that I would not be the only one to envisage last Sunday evening's Carol Service cancelled. After a very brief spell of warmer weather, when the snow went very quickly, as Saturday morning dawned there was another, quite heavy, covering of snow. One of the readers I had organised lives just under the pinnacle at Sutton and looking across the valley I could see that his track was impassable and a subsequent 'phone call confirmed this. So plan B with a substitute reader went into operation! Sunday morning saw no fresh snow and a small path had been dug and salted from the main church gate and from Kirkgate- although the car park was closed.Inside the church it was a little warmer ( not much) and it was announced that the evening service would go ahead. So it was and Sunday evening saw me donning two jumpers two fleeces four pairs of socks and walking boots and thus I arrived at church to be ready to tick off my readers.
It was estimated that around 160 people braved the elements- gone are the days when the church was absolutely packed out and people were directed to sit near the high altar and in the lady chapel. Soon the church was hearing the first strains of 'Once in Royal David's City' and the tapers were being carried round to light everybody's candles. The tableau was sadly depleted this year. Every year children are invited to come dressed as angels, shepherds, kings and animals but only a shepherd and a lamb joined Mary and Joseph at the front of church.
The bad weather has a knock on effect in many ways!
On Christmas Eve there will be a Crib Service at 4pm when the Posada figures are returned to the church and at 11.30pm there is a midnight Eucharist , a family Eucharist on Christmas Day and Holy Communion on Boxing Day- Stephen First Martyr.
I have had quite a few messages from people who regularly read my blog wishing the church at Kildwick all the very best at this time.
These include the church in East Leake, Rabbi Mark in New York State and Roger Smith.
I send all readers of my ramblings my very best wishes for a happy Christmas and for a happy healthy and peaceful 2011.

'Winter arrives at Kildwick'

In common with places up and down the country winter has certainly arrived, with a vengeance, in the Kildwick area. From Saturday we have seen snow most days and last night we had blizzard conditions. As the pictures show my garden is a white carpet and I am keeping the bird feeders full- which is an ongoing task as the frequent visitors soon make short shrift of the seeds.

By the side of my bird bath there is an incongruous, for this time of year, rose- the red on its petals making a sharp contrast to the white snow.The churchyard has not escaped, although to make it easier for visitors, one or two of the paths have been cleared a little.

I could not resist taking a picture of the spider's web- isn't nature wonderful.

From the weekly notice sheet it is apparent that a busy time is approaching. Tonight, for those brave enough to risk the Arctic conditions, is the Patronal Festival service.The preacher at the this special service is Brother James Anthony of the Society of St Francis. I will be sorry to miss this service but, being on a much higher level, I am pretty much stuck in at the moment.
The schools' Christmas events start next week with Kildwick School's KS1 Christmas play in church on Wednesday 8th December and Thursday 9th December at 1.30pm in church. Monday 13th December Glusburn School will be having their Carol service in church at 6.30pm.

On Thursday 9th December the Pastoral Care Group has organised a Christmas lunch for the valued older members of the congregation. After much discussion it was decided that it would be beneficial to all concerned to hold it at St Peter's Church Hall in Crosshills- this being more central, and has a large room to accomodate people all together. As usual I am sure the ladies will rise to the challenge and mouth watering dishes will be wending their way to St Peter's. My contribution will be a trifle and playing the piano for old favourites such as Ilkley Moor, Auld Lang Syne!
At 4pm on Sunday 12th December the Crosshills and District Fellowship of Churches have arranged the annual Nativity Pageant in Sutton in Craven. The procession of shepherds, kings and even a donkey will make their way from North Road to the park for readings, drama and carols before all adjourning to South Craven Baptist Chapel for welcome refreshments- the donkey of course going back to its warm stable half way up Ellers Road!

Our own Carol Service- hopefully all the snow will have gone- takes place on Sunday evening 19th December at 6pm. I organise the readings for this service and hopefully I will not have to ring round those who have agreed to read at the service to inform them that it has been cancelled. Last year the weather was absolutely foul on that night and it was thought best to cancel the service because -even if anyone had dared to brave the icy weather -it was dangerous on the approach to the church. Fingers crossed for this year! As usual children are invited to come dressed as angels, shepherds or kings.

The usual Christmas services have been arranged- Crib Service at 4pm on Christmas Eve and later on the Midnight Eucharist and a Family Eucharist on Christmas Day.