New Vicar For Otley Parish Church
We are delighted to announce that Revd Aaron Kennedy was Inducted as the new Vicar of Otley on Saturday 24 September 2022. The service was lead by Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds. A warm welcome was given to Aaron, his wife Grace and their two children as they start their new life in Otley
Aaron’s first Sunday Service – 26 September 10.30am
Raising The Chevin Cross 2022
Farewell to Revd Graham Buttanshaw
The church was packed on Sunday 21 November 2021 to say goodbye to Graham and Janet as they retire from 22 years ministry in Otley. We ask you to join with us praying for them as they enter a new stage of life together.
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- Original drawing by church member and artist xomartynxo. Given to Graham and Janet as a gift from the congregation.
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- Hand painted plate created by the church children and local pottery cafe Puffin Pottery Leeds.
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- Leaving cake made by one of our talented church members.
Beautiful Picture By Steve Davey
Unusually taken from in front of the East Window looking west down the Chancel and Nave.
Thoughts, reflections and links about HRH Prince Philip:-Here
OPC Window on 2020 Christmas Stamp
This year’s £1.70 stamp features a section of the South Transept window.
The window was installed in 1862 and shows the Nativity on the lower tier and the Crucifixion on the upper tier.
Annual Church Meeting 2020 Information. Click Here
Newall Church Hall Press Release – 19 June 2020:-
Newall Church Hall was built by Otley Parish Church in the late 1920s primarily as a Sunday School hall on the north side of the river, with other activities happening during the week. For the last twenty years the Church has had little need of the building, and it has been very under-used.
The hall has long been a drain on the Parish Church’s resources, so for the last two years the Parochial Church Council has been trying to obtain planning permission to redevelop the site with low-cost housing, but this has not proved possible.
The land on which the hall is located was originally donated by the Horton-Fawkes family of Farnley Hall to a trust which was set up for the benefit of the Parish Church. Some years ago the trustees formally transferred ownership of the land to the Parish Church.
The Hall and surrounding land has now been sold to a local business. The Church will thus be able to focus its resources on maintaining the Parish Church building on Kirkgate. It is Otley’s oldest and finest building – a Grade 1 listed building, but which has heavy maintenance costs met almost entirely by the Church’s congregation.
Over the years, many people have worked in a voluntary capacity to keep Newall Church Hall running and available for community use – we would like to thank them all.
Spring Harvest Local at Otley Parish Church – 30 January 2020
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- Lou Fellingham
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- Lisa Holmes
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- Gavin Calver
Christmas Eve 2019 Christingle Services
(Left to Right) Revd Graham Buttanshaw, Sarah McCormack, Mary Vickers (Town Mayor),
Bishop Paul Slater, Pete Longbottom
Confirmation for many is an important part of their journey of faith. On Sunday 7 April, Sarah McCormack and Pete Longbottom were confirmed by Rt Revd Paul Slater, Bishop of Kirkstall. During the service both Sarah and Pete spoke briefly about their Christian faith and what has brought them to this point of confirmation. Their talks are transcribed here:-
Sarah McCormack
“Like most relationships, my relationship with God has evolved over the years. Although there have been periods in my life where I have questioned my faith, God has never left me, and I have been overwhelmed by his mercy and love. God knows, so when I am unsure, he is my certainty. In the space between clarity and confusion, his word is my guide. This is why I seek him. My confirmation is an important part of my life-time journey of faith as a follower of Jesus, to strengthen and affirm my personal relationship with God.”
Pete Longbottom
“How I came to this point…
If you can imagine working in a dark place
And never seeing the light.
Big metal door and a key that’s too heavy to lift
You’re looking through that door, you want to get to the other side but you can’t.
You just can’t get there.
All of a sudden God came into my life and said, “lift that key”.
Go through to the other side.
I did and I have felt his love and presence ever since. It’s the best thing that Jesus has ever given me – that God has ever given me.
It doesn’t matter if you are the richest man or the poorest, all you need is to have love in your heart.
I have found love in my heart. I love my mum, my family here today and I love each and every one of you here today.”
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Otley Parish Church Beer Festival 2018
Otley Parish Church Beer Festival seek to raise funds for the parish church and three main charities each year. One of our committee members suggested the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund following a procedure his son had done at LGI. He had witnessed first hand the difficulties children and their parents had to face and the wonderful work done by CHSF. The Beer Festival made a profit of nearly £7000 from the two day event held in November half of which was given towards the maintenance of the parish church which is the oldest building in Otley. £1500 was given to both CHSF and Wheatfields Hospice and £500 to Otley in Bloom and the attached photograph was taken at the presentation event held on 23 January 2019.
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Commoners Choir – More Than A Mouthful
Click below to see a short film including coverage of the event at our church on 28 April 2018.
