Vicar’s Letter
Dear Friends
As summer arrives in Wensleydale, our landscape changes day by day. The light lingers well into the evening over fields and dales, gardens flourish and life settles into a gentler rhythm.
There is a sense of space in longer days – time for conversations, an evening walk along a familiar path or quiet moments looking over the dale.
Light has deep significance in our Christian faith. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
At this brightest time of the year that promise speaks clearly into our everyday lives.
In our rural communities light often arrives softly rather than dramatically.
It is seen in steady, faithful things: the care shown to neighbours, the shared work of village life, the prayers offered week by week in our churches that have stood at the heart of our communities for generations.
Christ’s light is not something to be rushed past; it invites us to pause and notice where God is already at work among us. Light also brings clarity and guidance. With longer days paths seem easier to follow, tasks feel more manageable and the world looks more hopeful.
Following Christ does not remove all difficulty from life but it does help us to see differently – with compassion, patience and trust.
In a farming community where much depends on weather, timing and care this steady light is especially treasured.
Throughout June and July some churches will be hosting weddings or we may even be attending one. This year we celebrate 20 years as ‘The Penhill Benefice’ and we will be holding a Service of Thanksgiving on Sunday 12th July at 10.30 am in St Andrew's Church, Aysgarth with Revd Canon Dr James Theodosius, Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven. (See church service page)
All of our churches are open during daylight hours and they offer a place to sit, reflect or offer up a prayer. Each of these moments matter. They are ways that the light of Christ continues to shine in our parishes, welcoming all who come.
As the Church of England in this part of the Wensley Deanery, in the Ripon Episcopal area, we remain rooted in place – in stone churches, churchyards, lanes and villages – while looking outward with hope. We are developing a Deanery pilgrimage which links our places together.
Whether you worship regularly, occasionally or simply value the presence of the church in your community, you are part of that shared journey.
As the days reach their longest and begin their slow turning back towards autumn, may we remember that the light of Christ does not fade with the seasons. It remains constant - guiding us, sustaining us, and calling us to walk in hope together.
With every blessing for the summer months ahead.
Yours in Christ,
Revd Penny Yeadon
Click here for the Penhill Beacon June to July 2026
Facebook: We now have a Benefice Facebook page up and running. This will be useful for sharing services and events with the wider community. Please search for ‘The Penhill Benefice’ and ‘follow, like and invite’! Thank you.
Churches Open:
Preston under Scar and Wensley - Daily
Aysgarth - daily
Castle Bolton - daily
Redmire - Daily
West Witton - daily
We ask that you are mindful of the environment and kindly remove cellophane and ribbon when placing fresh flowers at the graveside of loved ones in our churchyards.
Revd Scott Lunn will be ordained at Ripon Cathedral at 2.00 pm on Saturday 27th June. All welcome.. For his own introduction when he became curate of Penhill Benefice and photos click here
Church Coffee Morning 10.30am -12 noon Redmire Village Hall Wednesday 3rd June Wednesday 1st July
Church Afternoon Tea 2-4pm, Redmire Village Hall Wednesday 17th June Wednesday 15th July
Prayer Fellowship
The Prayer Fellowship usually meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7.30 pm at Aysgarth Institute to pray together for the benefice, the wider church, local, national and international issues, and for personal concerns and each other. We begin with a Bible Reflection and short discussion. .Next meetings - Tuesday 23rd June; Tuesday 28th July.
Penhill Benefice 20th Year Anniversary Celebrations
Anniversary Flower Festival: This year Penhill Benefice is celebrating two important local anniversaries: it’s twenty years since the four parishes of Aysgarth, Bolton cum Redmire, Preston with Wensley and West Witton came together to form the Benefice and thirty-five years since the foundation of the Wensleydale Flower Club.
To celebrate these two milestones we are jointly holding a Flower Festival at St Andrew’s Church, Aysgarth, on the theme of ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’. The four-day long festival will be open to the public 10am - 5pm from Friday 26th till Monday 29th June inclusive. Entrance is free so please do join us and encourage your family, friends and visitors to come along too
10.30am Sunday 12th July. - Holy Communion Penhill Together Service, St Andrew’s, Aysgarth with Revd Canon Dr James Theodosius, Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven. Buffet lunch to follow.
Two Benefice Anniversary Walks: Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July.
Walk from church to church across the Benefice about 8 miles per day. Tuesday 4th to Friday 7th August. Walk around the perimeter of the Benefice over four days.
Benefice Retreat Day 12th September 10am to 3pm at Jonas Centre led by Father Bede from Ampleforth: at the Jonas Centre, Redmire. More details to follow concerning all these events.
Wensleydale Filling Station 7pm, Thornborough Hall, Moor Road, Leyburn DL8 5AB
Friday 12th June with Matt Hirst from the Lake District.
Friday 10th July with Sebastian Rab from the Jonas Centre.
Contact: 07714 204024
Prayer and Praise Live! 7pm, Chantry Hall, Bedale, DL8 1AF
Friday 26th June – TBC
Friday 24th July – Favourite Hymns and Songs
For more information email
Carperby Open Gardens 11am – 4pm Sunday 28th June
Quality refreshments in the Village Institute
Entry: adults £5 children free
Songs of Praise
There will be a Songs of Praise service at St Margaret's, Preston under Scar at 6pm on 19th July.
Christian Aid - The Lent Lunches in six villages around the Benefice raised a total of £1,248.05 including Gift Aid for the Christian Aid Lent Appeal. Thank you to everyone who took part and contributed in any way.
Thank you from Mary’s Meals Charity: The amount raised from the recent currency collection in the Benefice was £302.61. This is enough to provide daily meals for 15 children for a whole school year or, at just 10p per serving, that’s more than 3000 nutritious portions of Mary’s Meals! The currency came from more than 30 different countries! Additional donations that have been given will be sent when there is enough weight for a courier collection.
The Very Narrow Bridge of Life: Stories Through the Church Year by Revd Peter Jenner
This is a book about finding joy in a world that sometimes seems difficult to navigate. Through a collection of engaging stories, which were originally delivered as sermons, Peter invites us to reflect on our own faith journey and encourages us to be ‘fully part of the adventure of life…appreciative of God’s creation, of human interaction and delighting in what is and ought to be.’ Peter died shortly after retiring, and during his final months the book was edited by Louise Redshaw who lives in Carperby. Profits from the sale of the book will be shared between St Andrew’s Church, Aysgarth, and the Stuart Warren Foundation which supports a PhD student from the South African Region to study Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. Copies are available for £10 from:
Aysgarth church -
The following are now available online -
War Memorials and Graves at Aysgarth church
The printed illustrated guide to War Memorials and Graves in the churchyard is available in Aysgarth church.
Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line.
The line is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044. Callers will hear a special greeting from the Archbishop before being able to choose from a range of options, including hymns, prayers, reflections and advice on COVID-19. Please let your family and friends, who are not on internet, know about this. More information click here
Hear To Help
Just 'B' is offering emotional wellbeing support to people in the Harrogate District, Hambleton and Richmondshire, with its Hear to Help phoneline, available to anyone who may need help with such issues as grief, low mood, isolation, anxiety or isolation. The line is manned by trained staff and volunteers and is available seven days a week, 8am-8pm. For more information see Hear to Help.