The Church in the Dale
The Church in the Dale is an ecumenical alliance between Churches of different denominations across Nidderdale.
It includes the Pateley Bridge Methodist Circuit, the Anglican parish of Upper Nidderdale, the Anglican parish of Dacre with Hartwith and Darley with Thornthwaite, Providence Chapel (United Reformed Church), the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady Immaculate, and Holy Family RC parish at RAF Menwith Hill.
The Church in the Dale seeks to proclaim the good news of Jesus, nurture and support Christians, and promote unity and service among the Christians of Nidderdale.
The official launch of the Church in the Dale took place on Sunday 27 May 2007. The Memorial Hall in Pateley Bridge was packed with over 200 people, who came to witness the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding by church leaders and to celebrate this historic agreement.
Leaders and representatives from all of the member churches took part in the service, as did denominational representatives. The Memorandum of Understanding had previously been signed by all those in leadership positions in the local church, and during the service it was signed by senior clergy representing each denomination: Rt Rev James Bell, Bishop of Knaresborough; Rev Michael Townsend, Chair of Leeds Methodist District; Mgr Michael McQuinn, Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds; and Mrs Val Morrison, Synod Clerk to the Yorkshire Synod of the United Reformed Church.