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The Fountains Benefice.
The Fountains Benefice is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
immediately west of the ancient cathedral city of Ripon, between Nidderdale
and Lower Wensleydale. It's name is taken from 'Fountains Abbey' which lies
within its bounds. A former Cistercian monastery from the 12th Century, the
ruins of 'Fountains Abbey' are the largest monastic ruins in the country and are
now held in the care of The National Trust, and along with the Church of St
Mary's, Studley Royal (which is owned by English Heritage), they receive an
average of 340,000 visits per year as a 'World Heritage Site'.
THE BENEFICE itself consists of four parishes served
by seven churches: Kirkby Malzeard, Mickley,
Grewelthorpe, and Fountains Parish, this last covering
churches in the villages of Winksley, Sawley and
Aldfield. The seventh is a Chapel of Ease located on the
edge of Dallowgill Moor. It is a rural benefice reaching
Kirkby Malzeard Main Street
from the edges of the town to the moors with much
of the
population involved in agricultural work, however there are also traders, retailers, the
'Wensleydale Creamery', and commuters who travel to
Ripon, Harrogate, Leeds and further afield, and many
who work from home or who have retired to this
community. The setting is undoubtedly beautiful with
woods, rivers, pastoral farmland, and moors; and yet
there is also easy access to the many amenities of Ripon
with its shops, cathedral and wider civic and cultural
heritage, also the Spa town of Harrogate; and
Grewelthorpe
immediately to the north of the benefice lies Masham, an
ancient market town famous for its two family-owned breweries
(Theakstons and Black Sheep), its lively visitor life and annual
Sheep Fair. With easy access to the A1, Leeds to the south,
Newcastle to the north and York to the east are each under one
hour's drive away.
There are a number of excellent and well-supported pubs
within the villages of the benefice, in Kirkby Malzeard
there is a village shop, butcher, Fish & Chip Shop,
A petrol station/garage and
hairdresser. There are three
Church of England (Voluntary
Controlled) Primary Schools
within the benefice: at Grantley (in
the Fountains parish), Kirkby
Malzeard and Grewelthorpe.
There are two Readers in the Benefice, and assistance is also
provided by retired clergy who live in the area. There is also
a diocesan house in the beautiful village of Grewelthorpe
which will be occupied by the future House for Duty priest.
During the vacancy the house has had new double glazed
windows put in.
Each parish and church has its own character, with a
dedicated core of regular worshippers and a wider
contingent of occasional worshippers and local supporters.
Given the number of churches congregations in each can be
small, but they represent a good proportion of the
population at large. The schools are actively involved in
worship, and young families are well-represented at many
of the services. The Rector and other members of the
ministry team also share the responsibility of conducting
occasional school assemblies and serving as school
governors.
In addition to the services held in the churches of the
Fountains Parish, occasional services are held at the church
of St Mary’s, Studley Royal with the permission or
invitation of English Heritage, and regular annual services
and celebrations take place within the ruins of Fountains
Abbey itself. The Rector co-ordinates a Chaplaincy Team
of ordained and licensed lay people at the Abbey,
ministering both to the many visitors and to the estate staff.
There are Methodist chapels at Kirkby Malzeard, Sawley
and Dallowgill, and since the closure of the Methodist
Chapel at Grewelthorpe the Church there has formed an
Anglican-Methodist Local Ecumenical Partnership,
working together out of St James' Church in serving and
ministering to the local community. The old Methodist
church is now managed by the community as a village hall
with a small café.
Throughout the Benefice Churchwardens and
PCCs are industrious and committed to their
responsibilities. The various churches exude
a strong sense of the sacred and of a
continuous tradition of prayer, in some
cases going back many centuries, enhanced
by the proximity of the Cathedral and Abbey.
Challenges and opportunities are each real and significant : - vulnerable
members of the community experiencing financial or social difficulties are
scattered across the Benefice, the experience of the many elderly in isolated
areas is a particular cause for our concern,
We wish to generate a greater sense of our common purpose of living and
preaching the gospel in co-operation with one-other across the Benefice. We
seek a new House for Duty Priest who wishes to serve and delight-in this
community, bringing energy and vision to inspire and be inspired, to be joined
in our life and witness.