Vicar’s Letter
Dear everyone
Boundaries
Earlier this year we walked. We walked between the churches of the Benefice. Then we walked around the churches of the Benefice. Fiona had meticulously planned both walks with accurate timings, taking into account terrain and elevation. Not factored in her equations was my tendency to stop at every boundary stone, wrap it in the green benefice stole, and take a picture!
The many boundary stones around our benefice are ancient; they have stood the test of time as they mark the boundaries between estates and parishes. Most are well away from any footpaths or roads and are seen only occasionally by estate workers ….. or those reckless enough to trek around the perimeter of the Benefice! Boundary stones have their prominence in the Old Testament (e.g. Prov.22:28; 23:10-11, Deut.19:14; 27:17, Hosea 5:10): “Be respectful of an ancient boundary stone set up by your ancestors”.
In contrast to the boundary walk, the between-the-churches walk faithfully remained on designated footpaths; routes used by countless generations before us. Jeremiah gives God’s people direction: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’ But you said, ‘We will not walk in it’ ” (6:16). The prophet knows that we can sometimes choose a different path.
I work and live outside the Benefice. Those who I meet, from beyond our boundaries, often ask me to describe our version of Church here in Penhill.
I explain that a rural church is not like many urban churches: there, folk have a range of churches to go to the boundaries in each can become narrower; this denomination or that denomination, one style of worship or a different style of worship. One can easily choose a church which is ‘most like me’ and church has the risk of becoming an echo chamber for unchallenged pathways of belief, whether ‘good ways’ or not. One of the strengths (but also challenge) of our Church in its rural setting is that there is a binary choice: go to church, or don’t. I have the privilege of looking towards the church family during our worship and, especially in our Penhill Together Services, and there’s a terrific range of personalities and church backgrounds all brought together, worshipping in one place.
That’s not to dismiss differences, nor argue that we should ignore differences; the challenge and skill is in living with our differences, in love. I lament that amongst the many wise voices contributing to differences at a national level of church are those not similarly exposed to a similar range of difference at a local level. In our ‘loving, living, and learning’ with-and-through differences we walk an ancient pathway: “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Romans 15:7); “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).
Ultimately, we are individually accountable to God, and we finish with a return to Proverbs for setting our own personal boundaries for guidance and protection as we walk with our loving creator: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (4:23).
Revd Scott Lunn
Revd Lunn was 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
click here for the October to November issue of The Beacon.
Aysgarth churchyard inscriptions: The updated list of these is almost complete and Pip Pointon would be grateful for help with this. See under 'The churchyard and family history' on the Aysgarth church page for the list and further information.
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.
Benefice Walks to mark the 20th anniversary of Penhill Benefice
Both that around the churches and the 43-mile boundary walk were successfully completed. There is a report and a few photos on Pipspatch - and lots more photos on the benefice Facebook page.
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.
St Andrew’s Gift Day -St Andrew’s Day is Monday 30th November. The Annual Aysgarth Gift Day Letters will be distributed as usual to houses in the parish around the middle of November.
As from 2027 the proposed weekend will be towards the end of October.
Church Coffee Morning: 10.30am-12 noon, Wednesday 7th October in Redmire Village Hall and Wednesday 4th November. The Bolton cum Redmire Gift Day is on 4th November.
Art, Photography and Craft ~ Exhibition and Sale: 10.00am – 4.00pm Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October, Carperby Village Hall. Please join us as Carperby Village Hall continues its Centenary Year celebrations. Further information:
Church Afternoon Tea In Redmire village hall 2-4pm on Wednesday 21st October and Wednesday 18th November
Jonas Centre Prayer Barn, Redmire. Monthly prayer meeting on the first Wednesday of the month. Gather with other local Christians to praise God together and to pray for our local churches and communities here in the Dales. We would love to extend a very warm invite to anyone locally who would like to join us. The next prayer meeting is from 8am on Wednesday 7th October.
Quiet Day: 10am – 4pm, Thursday 15th October at The Jonas Centre, Redmire. ‘£30 per person includes lunch and refreshments. In partnership with Susanna Hinton from Feet of Faith. Open My Eyes, Lord…So That I May See. To book - Book a quiet day | Feet of Faith
Prayer and Praise Live! 7pm at Chantry Hall, Bedale, DL8 1AF.
Friday 23rd October - Revd Gillian Lunn, ‘Favourite Bibles passage’
Friday 27th November - Revd Scott Lunn, ‘Love one another’
For more information email
Wensley Deanery presents A “Come and Sing” Day with Mike Leigh 10am – 2.30pm, Saturday 24th October
Chantry Hall, North End, Bedale, DL8 1AF. www.mikeleighsings.com Come for a joyful, harmonious and praise filled day of singing. All are welcome. No singing experience is needed, and you don’t need to read music to join in. Mike is a singer and Natural Voice Practitioner with over 20 years of experience in teaching songs that are sung without instruments. Bring your own packed lunch. Refreshments will be provided.
There is no charge for this event, but donations will be gratefully received.
Let us know if you’re coming – 07513 457245
Christmas Craft Workshop Celebrating Penhill Benefice - 20th Anniversary Year:
10:00am - 4:00pm in West Witton Village Hall, Saturday, 24th October
Morning craft: Make a Folded Patchwork Star Card, using Christmas fabrics. Minimal sewing, tacking stitches only. Everything provided, just bring your own sewing kit, needles, scissors and ruler/tape measure.
Afternoon craft: Make a Bead Angel for your Christmas Tree. Everything provided. Bring packed lunch if you are staying for both workshops. Tea and coffee will be provided. For adults, unless you have a particularly "crafty" teenager. £5 for each craft session: Funds going to the Penhill Benefice. Contact: Anne Kinsman - 07800 510532
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. The next meeting is on Tuesday 27th October.
Memorial Service at All Souls’ tide: Sunday 1st November at 3.00 p.m. St Andrew’s Church, Aysgarth
All Souls’ is also called The ‘Commemoration of the Faithful Departed’.
Once again we are inviting everyone to this service. Whether you are remembering someone who died recently or many years ago, you are warmly encouraged to come and participate. Within the service we each light a candle to their memory and place our hope in the Light of Christ. Please send names to Christine at the office.
Posada Journey - If you would like to be a host to the Posada figures in West Witton or Swinithwaite for a night during December please contact Christine (624542) or Mary (623813) E:
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.