Dear Friends,

I wish you all the most merry of Christmasses! Thank you for your support of the work of our parish over this past year, and I pray that the new year brings each of you rich blessings.

If you’re in Ilkley for Christmas I hope you’ll be able to join us for one of our beautiful services as we mark the birth of our Saviour. On Christmas Eve we have our family Crib Service at 3.00 pm, and the Bethlehem Midnight Mass at 10.00 pm (midnight in Bethlehem!)

Our Christmas Day Mass is at 10.00 am.

Looking ahead to the weekend, we have a reduced programme of services on Sunday with Low Mass at 8.00 am and Sung Mass at 10.45 am (there is no Family Service or Choral Evensong this week). This year the Feast of the Holy Innocents falls on the first Sunday of Christmas, and we will keep a special intention in our Masses for all the innocents caught up in war and violence, all refugees, and victims and survivors of abuse.

Please see the notices for details of further services in the Christmas season, including our High Mass for the Epiphany, on Tuesday 6 January at 7.30 pm.

With my prayers and best wishes,

Fr Alex