The Fountains Benefice.
The Fountains Benefice is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty immediately west of the ancient cathedral city of Ripon, between Nidderdale and Lower Wensleydale. It's name is taken from 'Fountains Abbey' which lies within its bounds. A former Cistercian monastery from the 12th Century, the ruins of 'Fountains Abbey' are the largest monastic ruins in the country and are now held in the care of The National Trust, and alongwith the Church of St Mary's, Studley Royal (which is owned by English Heritage), they receive an average of 340,000 visits per year as a 'World HeritageSite'.
Kirkby Malzeard Main Street
THE BENEFICE itself consists of four parishes served by seven churches: Kirkby Malzeard, Mickley, Grewelthorpe, and Fountains Parish, this last coveringchurchesinthevillagesofWinksley,Sawleyand Aldfield. The seventh is a Chapel of Ease located on the edge of Dallowgill Moor. It is a rural benefice reaching from the edges of the town to the moors with much of the
population involved in agricultural work, however there are also traders, retailers, the 'Wensleydale Creamery', and commuters who travel to
Ripon, Harrogate, Leeds and further afield, and many who work from home or who have retired to this community. The setting is undoubtedly beautiful with woods, rivers, pastoral farmland, and moors; and yet there is also easy access to the many amenities of Ripon with its shops, cathedral and wider civic andcultural
heritage, also the Spa town of Harrogate; and
immediately to the north of the benefice lies Masham, an ancient market town famous for its two family-owned breweries (Theakstons and Black Sheep), its lively visitor life and annual Sheep Fair. With easy access to the A1, Leeds to the south, Newcastle to the north and York to the east are each under one hour's drive away.
Grewelthorpe
There are a number of excellent and well-supported pubs within the villages of the benefice, in Kirkby Malzeard there is a village shop, butcher, Fish & Chip Shop,
A petrol station/garageand hairdresser. There are three Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary Schools within the benefice: at Grantley (in the Fountains parish), Kirkby Malzeard and Grewelthorpe.
There are two Readers in the Benefice, and assistance is also provided by retired clergy who live in the area. There is also a diocesan house in the beautiful village of Grewelthorpe which will be occupied by the future House for Dutypriest. During the vacancy the house has had new double glazed windows put in.
Each parish and church has its own character, with a dedicated core of regular worshippers and a wider contingent of occasional worshippers and local supporters. Given the number of churches congregations in each can be small, but they represent a good proportion of the population at large. The schools are actively involved in worship, and young families are well-represented at many of the services. The Rector and other members of the ministry team also share the responsibility of conducting occasional school assemblies and serving as school governors.
In addition to the services held in the churches of the Fountains Parish, occasional services are held at the church of St Mary’s, Studley Royal with the permission or invitation of English Heritage, and regular annual services and celebrations take place within the ruins of Fountains Abbey itself. The Rector co-ordinates a Chaplaincy Team of ordained and licensed lay people at the Abbey, ministering both to the many visitors and to the estate staff.
There are Methodist chapels at Kirkby Malzeard, Sawley and Dallowgill, and since the closure of the Methodist Chapel at Grewelthorpe the Church there has formed an Anglican-Methodist Local Ecumenical Partnership, working together out of St James' Church in serving and ministering to the localcommunity. The old Methodist church is now managed by the community as a village hall with a small café.
Throughout the Benefice Churchwardens and PCCs are industrious and committed to their responsibilities. The various churches exude a strong sense of the sacred and of a continuous tradition of prayer, in some cases going back many centuries, enhanced by the proximity of the Cathedral and Abbey.
Challenges and opportunities are each real and significant : - vulnerable members of the community experiencing financial or social difficulties are scattered across the Benefice, the experience of the many elderly in isolated areas is a particular cause for our concern,
We wish to generate a greater sense of our common purpose of living and preaching the gospel in co-operation with one-other across the Benefice. We seek a new House for Duty Priest who wishes to serve and delight-in this community, bringing energy and vision to inspire and be inspired, to be joined in our life and witness.