Airton

Quaker Services: Quakers in Airton have regular quiet meetings for worship every Sunday at 2pm in the ancient Quaker Meeting House by the Green in Airton, on Calton Lane BD23 4AE. Worship lasts for an hour. All are welcome to this the earliest place of non-conformist worship dating from the 1600s. Refreshments in the Barn follow each meeting. The Meeting House is open every day of the week for those who need a place of refreshment and peace in the midst of a turbulent world. For more information please email airtonbarn@gmail.com or call 01729 900018.

Bolton Abbey

Rector’s message: This Sunday is the first Sunday after Christmas. Although most of us will have celebrated Christmas Day last week, Christmas is not a one-day event. The story of Christmas continues with different accounts of the birth of Christ being told. This Sunday, we hear the story of Joseph and how he himself had to cope with the news that Mary was with child. It is only by hearing the different accounts that we can begin to understand the whole. However, like his wife Mary, we learn that Joseph also had to put his faith in God and his workings in the world. As we stand on the verge of a New Year let us also be attentive to God’s word this year and what he might be asking us to do to further His Kingdom here on earth.

Bradley

Bradleys Both Parish Council: The Bradleys Both Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) was adopted earlier this year following a village referendum. It contains important design and other requirements for a site in Skipton Road, previously allocated in the Craven Local Plan for 24 homes. A developer, RN Wooler, assisted by Rural Solutions, has recently approached the parish council with preliminary proposals for the development of the site. The NDP requires RN Wooler to engage with the parish council and the wider community in Bradley over their proposals before making a formal planning application. The parish council is keen to ensure the plan for the development of the Skipton Road site meets the policy of our NDP and evolves with the benefit of input from both the parish council and the wider community. The NDP and associated documents can be found on the web at bradleyvillage.org/neighbourhood-development-plan/. The site is described in the NDP as BB03. The parish council hopes to make a further announcement about the consultation process shortly.

Carleton

Church news: St Mary’s Church. Each Sunday at 11.15am; 3rd and 5th Sunday – Bread, Wine & Worship; 2nd & 4th Sunday – Parish Communion; 1st Sunday of each month: 8am Book of Common Prayer Communion. St Mary’s ‘Coffee Pot’ is open each Friday from 2pm – 4pm

Coniston Cold and Bell Busk

Church news: St Peter’s Church Coniston Cold. On Sunday 31st December there will not be a service at St Peter’s, but there are communion services at our sister churches in Kirkby Malham (at 10am), and in Gargrave (at 11am) to which all are welcome. St Peter’s Church services are normally at 9.30am on the second and fourth Sunday of each month (BCP Holy Communion), and at 4pm on the first and third Sunday of each month (Compline Evensong). For any enquiries about weddings, baptisms, or funerals please contact Revd Andrew Steer on: andrew.steer@leeds.anglican.org

Farnhill and Kildwick

Graham Taylor – Correspondent@farnhill.co.uk

Farnhill Parish Council: The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the institute this evening (Thursday 28th), starting at 7.30pm. The first 15 minutes of the meeting will be set aside for public participation. All members of the village are welcome to attend.

2024 calendar: The 2024 Kildwick and Farnhill Village Institute annual calendar is now on sale; price £10, including a posting envelope. Available from: White Lion, Kildwick; Coffee & Crumbs; Crag & Coffee; and elsewhere in the village.

Gargrave

caroline@sandjsthompson.co.uk

Church news: St Andrew’s Church. December 31: 11am Cafe Church. On Sunday, January 5, we meet at the back of church around the tables and have a chance to chat through a topic posed by Rev Andrew. This is a very relaxed worship service. As ever, everyone is welcome to come for 11am to join in the service or to turn up at the end for a coffee and, if wanted a chance to pray/talk with someone. Just ask one of the welcome team or Rev Andrew.

Giggleswick

Church news: St. Alkelda’s Church. What a wonderful Christmas weekend we had. Special thanks to the pupils from Settle Primary School who read and sang so beautifully on Christmas Eve morning, and to the pupils of Giggleswick Primary School, Settle Primary and Settle College who acted in the Nativity Tableaux and read in the evening. Christmas Day was celebrated with Castleberg Benefice Morning Worship led by Rev. Julie Clarkson. On Sunday 31st there is no service at St Alkelda’s but the Castleberg Benefice worships together once again in Holy Ascension, Settle, at 10 am. Rev. Julie will lead a service of Holy Communion to which everyone is welcome.

Glusburn

Community & Arts Centre: We would like to wish all our customers a happy New Year. We look forward to welcoming you in January. Saturday, January 6, 7.30pm - Film: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Saturday, January 13, 11am-1pm, free singing workshop with Nicola Mills. Please register your interest to help us manage numbers. Saturday, January 13, 7.30pm - The Big Quiz. Saturday, January 20, 7.30pm - ‘A Spoonful of Julie’ with singer Nicola Mills. Call in to the centre to find out about events and activities and to book tickets, or visit our website gicac.org.uk or phone 01535 630 223. Regular office opening hours are Monday-Wednesday, 9.30am-2pm, Thursday-Friday, 9.30am-noon. We will be closed from Friday, December 22, to Monday, January 1, and open 10am-noon on Tuesday, January 2- Friday, January 5. Normal hours resume on Monday, January 8.

Horton-in-Ribblesdale

caroline@sandjsthompson.co.uk

Church news: Thanks are extended to everyone at St Oswald’s Church who has worked so hard on the carol services, choosing readings, reading them, playing, ringing bells, singing, baking, serving and clearing up. The trees and decorations in church are fabulous. There were 42 in the congregation at the carol service, including children who built the crib scene during the singing of carols with help from Jeanette and Janet. Thanks to Peter for all his work lighting the path again with recycled cans and candle wax.

A service of Holy Communion for the combined parishes of Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Stainforth and Langcliffe will be held in St John’s Church at Langcliffe at 10.30am on Sunday. Seasonal poems will be read.

Kirkby Malham

Church news: on Sunday 31st December we have a service of Holy Communion at 10am at St Michael’s to which all are welcome. The Christmas tree and windowsill arrangements will still be in place, and church is open every day from 9am to dusk for those needing a quiet space. The following week (Sunday 7th January) we have two services: 8.30am BCP Communion, and 10am Family Service. Facilities for visitors to make themselves a hot drink and information about the interesting history of our 15th Century church are available. We welcome enquiries about Weddings, Baptisms (Christenings), and Funerals; for more information please see our website: https://www.kirkbymalhamchurch.org or contact Revd Sue on sue.mcwhinney@leeds.anglican.org

Long Preston

traceylambert@btconnect.com

Used Postage Stamps: These are still being donated to the hedgehog charity. They can also be dropped off at the Methodist Church on a Sunday or Friday morning or anytime at 3 Ribblesdale Estate. We are no longer collecting used blister packs until further notice.

Church News: On Sunday 31st December the service at St Mary’s will be Holy Communion with Rev James Rodley at 11am. The will be no service at the Methodist Church. There will be a service at St Mary’s on Christmas Day which will be Holy Communion at 11am.

Strong and Steady: (gentle exercises) continues at 1.30-2.30 in the Methodist Chapel. This is followed by coffee and chocolate biscuits. Only £4 a session. Everyone welcome. Free transport available.

Craft Club: This will start again on Friday 5th January at10.30am - 12pm in the Methodist Chapel.

There will be no further pilates classes until further notice.

Settle

Church news: Parish Church. A busy week for Rev Julie Clarkson and the congregation at Holy Ascension with Christmas services, school carol services, Settle’s Pop Up Pantry and the distribution of Christmas parcels.

The ‘family friendly’ Crib Service at 3pm on Christmas Eve was lively. It was great to welcome so many families and have musicians Sally - Anne Brown with daughters Holly and Tabitha and friend Henry lead the carol singing.

The regular weekly activities are taking a short break this week. The Settle Pantry/Food Bank will not be open tomorrow, Friday 29 December but the cupboard in the church porch will be kept stocked up and is available 24/7.

On Sunday, 31 December, Revd Julie Clarkson leads the United Service of Holy Communion for all 3 Parishes of the Castleberg Benefice at 10am. Please note the earlier time for this service. All are welcome and do stay for refreshments and a chat afterwards.

Skipton

Church news: Christ Church. Sunday at 9.30am - Eucharist; Wednesday at 9.30am – Eucharist.

Steeton

Airedale Hospital and Community Charity: The official dedicated charity of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has had a busy season getting everybody in the Christmas spirit.

Even before December it was preparing for the upcoming holidays, launching its ‘Festive Fairs’ throughout November; first, in the Restaurant at Airedale General Hospital during the second week of November, and then again on 25 November at Skipton Town Hall, where visitors were greeted with Christmas music and a range of local business stalls. The Skipton Festive Fair raised over £450 for the charity.

Launching mid-November was the Christmas Gift Appeal, which saw many gifts being donated to patients at the hospital before the appeal ended on the 13 December. Dunelm in Keighley was responsible for over 50 gifts through its Delivering Joy campaign. Robertson Construction, which is currently undertaking the ward construction and refurbishment at Airedale hospital, donated a large number of gifts to the appeal, including games, chocolates, and toiletries for patients of all ages.

Angela McGarry, Matron at Airedale Hospital, gave the presents out to inpatients on Christmas Day. She said: “I wanted to hand the presents out because it’s an opportunity to put smiles on the faces of patients that can’t go home over Christmas.”

Laura Hepworth, community fundraiser for the charity, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who donated gifts to our Gift Appeal. We also want to say a massive thank you to Dunelm in Keighley. Thanks to them, and to everyone who donated a gift, our patients will feel that much more special over Christmas.”

The charity then kicked off December with its final Festive Fair of 2023 from 4-8 December, at the hospital. Laura added: “Our Festive Fairs really are a tribute to how our community can pull together to get in the spirit of things. Even in November, we had people running stalls with Santa hats on. All the businesses were so easy and lovely to work with, and it was all just such great fun, as well as raising much-needed funds for the charity.”

On December, 11 Airedale saw its first ever Tree of Light on its top landing, near its HODU (Haematology and Oncology Unit). The headline sponsor for the tree this year was Robertson Construction, which had donated £250 to the charity to be featured at the top of the tree, which will stay at the hospital on display until the 5 January.

After weeks of preparation, the charity’s annual Festive Lunches were handed out from 11-15 December. They had teamed up with Keelham Farm Shop in Skipton to hand-deliver a total of 2,584 packed lunches to hard-working Trust staff and volunteers. The farm shop arrived at the hospital at 10:30am every day to help the charity hand the lunches out. Courtesy of Manorlands Hospice in Keighley, the charity was joined by friends dressed in fabulous festive costumes to help hand out the lunches and provide some entertainment for staff. Also joining the charity during the week was the chair of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, Andrew Gold, who gave a helping hand, as well as children’s choirs from Sutton Community Primary School and Eastburn Junior & Infant School, and a brass band made up of musicians from across the Airedale area.

Laura added: “These lunches are our way of saying ‘thank you’ to our staff and volunteers who work so hard all year to keep our community safe and healthy.

“We want to extend a heartfelt thanks to Keelham Farm Shop for partnering with us on this and being a huge help with handing out the lunches and for showing up every day, without fail or complaint, and helping us out.”

The final event on the list before the team was able to relax in time for the holidays was Christmas Sock Day, where communities raise money for the hospital charity by wearing Christmassy socks together with uniformed staff who are unable to wear Christmas jumpers. An annual Airedale tradition, participants donate £1 to the charity and share their socks online by using the hashtag #SockSelfie. The campaign raised an impressive £235 for the charity.

Skipton Rotary Club donated 80 Advent calendars to Airedale Hospital’s children’s ward, gifts which were gratefully received by the younger patients.

Sutton Cricket Club donated cricket sets for every patient on the children’s ward.