A church with a fascinating history, which can lay claim to being Britain’s first Victorian building, is opening its doors to the public as part of a special day of celebration.Christ Church in Skipton is taking part in Yorkshire Churches Day, in which churches around the county are showcasing the amazing heritage to be found inside their buildings.Yorkshire Churches Day is being held in conjunction with Heritage Open Days, England’s largest festival of culture and history, on Saturday, September 10.Visitors to Christ Church are assured of a warm welcome and between 10am and 12 noon the resident organist, Professor Robert Marsh, will play the fine organ installed by Harrison and Harrison of Durham in 1905. There will also be a display of some church documents and photographs showing the life of the church for over 180 years.One of the most fascinating snippets in the history of the church happened when the foundation stone was laid in June 1837.The assembled crowd were singing the National Anthem when news came through that King William lV had died, and that Queen Victoria had ascended the throne, and the last refrain was changed to “God save our gracious Queen”.Buried in the graveyard is Edwin Calvert, known as the “Commander in Chief”. He was less than 36 inches (92cm) tall and weighed 25 and a half pounds (12kg) and was described as the “smallest most perfect man in the world”. He died in 1859, aged 17.Churchwarden Bill Carmichael said: “As the foundation stone was laid on the day Victoria became queen we have a good claim to be Britain’s first Victorian building.“It is a lovely, airy building and its fascinating history coincides with the rapid expansion of Skipton during the 1800s and early years of the last century.”Thousands of people are expected to come together on Yorkshire Churches Day to celebrate their heritage, community and history. Stories will be told, traditions explored and histories brought to life.Christ Church can be found in Cross Street, a few minutes walk from the High Street and close to the bus and railway stations. There is plentiful parking in nearby Cavendish Street.Entry is free, but contributions to the work of the church are welcome.
Sunday school children from Christ Church in Skipton are looking forward to sharing God’s bounty with the help of an innovative scheme that provides fresh, healthy food to the community entirely free of charge.The charity, Incredible Edible Skipton, installed two raised beds in the churchyard in Cross Street, and over the winter they were filled with soil and compost.In the spring, once the danger of frost had passed, the Incredible Edible team of volunteers supplied the church with vegetable seedlings raised in their polytunnel on the Middletown allotments site.With the arrival of the warm weather the seedlings have flourished and there are healthy crops of peas, cabbage, kale, onions, broccoli, lettuce and Swiss chard that are maturing.The idea is that anyone from the local community can harvest the crop whenever they like.The scheme is supported by Skipton Town Council, which maintains the churchyard, and a small team from the church’s congregation look after watering and weeding.On Sunday, after the morning service, Sunday school children took over watering duties and learned a little about the vegetables and how to care for them.Churchwarden Bill Carmichael said: “I think everyone got a bit wet, but it was great to get the children involved.“It is a fantastic scheme and we are glad to play a part and provide fresh, healthy vegetables for anyone who wants them.“It is great for community engagement and to promote healthy eating, and with food prices rising as fast as they are, it could be really useful for many families.“The crops are doing very well and some are already maturing – so if you fancy a nice fresh head of lettuce, or some kale or Swiss chard, just come along and take what you like.”No pesticides have been used and the crops are 100% organic, although as with any vegetable it is recommended that they be washed before use.The Incredible Edible network started in 2008 in Todmorden in West Yorkshire and has since grown to more than 100 groups in the UK and 600 globally.You can find out more about the charity, and how to volunteer, here www.incredibleedible.org.uk.
Fresh, wholesome food will soon be available to any members of the community who wants it thanks to an initiative by the Incredible Edible Skipton charity in conjunction with Christ Church.Incredible Edible have supplied two raised bed planters situated on the north side of the church yard close to the boundary with Cross Street.The planters were recently filled with a mixture of soil and compost, ready for planting up in the spring.Members of the Incredible Edible team were on hand to help with the filling work alongside a team of Community Champions from Tesco supermarket and with the support of Skipton Town Council, which maintains the grounds.Incredible Edible is currently using a polytunnel to raise seedlings of salad, Swiss chard, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, spring onions and sprouts.Members of the Christ Church congregation will look after the jobs of weeding and watering in the coming months.Once the crops have matured they can be harvested by anyone in the local community.We look forward to enjoying God’s bounty with you.“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”Proverbs 11: 24-25
