Fundraising

Divine Feasts is a follow-up to Divine Delicacies which was produced in 2008 and raised over £2500 for the Restoration Fund.  This book also involves just about everyone in the valley, ranging from residents to local restaurants, pubs, cafes and takeaways, a farm shop, schools, a newsagents and a post office.  It includes a lot of interesting food facts, amusing accounts of feasts and quotes from literature on eating and drinking.  One of the most fascinating bits of local history in the book is how shopping has changed in the village since the 1950s.  A list has been compiled of the shops around … Read more…

Rushbearing Sunday     The sun shone, amazingly after the summer we’ve had and there was a pretty good turnout on Sunday afternoon.  Church was open for visitors with the annual Songs of Praise service at 5.30 pm.  Apart from  fundraising stalls for  church funds and Mothers’ Union, we were joined by Toybox, Ripponden in Bloom and Ripponden with Rishworth WI.  New this year was a very successful coconut shy, plus Play your Cards right and a raffle to win a mini by Utility Warehouse.  We also raffled a gold  Millennium Cross generously donated by Toll House Jewellery.  The total exceeded … Read more…

Just two days after the garden party and duck race, the fund-raising team was in action again.  The music department of Ryburn Valley High School generously donated half the proceeds from their summer concert to church.  RVHS uses St Bart’s for its annual Christmas Carol Service and is very aware of our ongoing battle to meet costs.  This is the second time they have held their concert on our behalf.  Our involvement was providing the refreshments including home made cakes which proved very popular.   The total received so far is £139.28.    The concert was most enjoyable and, when … Read more…

  On Sunday 1 July we held our annual Garden Party & Duck Race in aid of the Restoration & Refurbishment Fund.  The weather was decidedly uncertain and some of the outdoor activities for children had to be held inside rather less successfully than we had hoped.  However, we raised over £935 which was a profit of £515 from the Duck Race, with 665 yellow ducks launched into the River Ryburn from the Pack Horse Bridge by Cllr Andrew Naylor and the Vicar, Rev Chris Wray.  As far as we know they have all been retrieved, though last year one … Read more…

On 18 May, West Yorkshire Police Band held a Jubilee Concert at St Bart’s.  Unfortunately, it was not well attended and raised only £220 for the Restoration & Redevelopment Fund.  Those who were not there missed a treat as it was a superb evening’s entertainment by a very talented band.  The programme included a medley of London Songs and the Last Night of the Proms favourites: Famous Sea Shanties, Jerusalem, and Land of Hope and Glory.

  Royal Wedding Over the weekend of 4 – 6 May, the Parish Council held a spectacular flower festival in church with a concert by Calderdale Big Band on the Sunday afternoon.  Proceeds will be divided between Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Restoration & Redevelopment Fund.  On 7 May, church held its usual stall at Ripponden Gala on a very cold and damp day, taking less than usual for church funds, £164.    New this year was the human fruit machine, aka the Moffat children (featured in the Halifax Courier on 9 May).  Our thanks go to them and everyone … Read more…

  Despite the wintry weather, a group of over 40 stalwarts, accompanied by the Mayor of Calderdale, Cllr Fekri, took part in the Sunday Saunter to raise money for the community centre roof.  Thank you to everyone who took part and to the team back at the community centre where welcome refreshments were provided afterwards.  Money is still coming in but £900 has been raised so far.