demolished. Now the textile mill has been replaced with a carpet mill and many of the farms have been sold and their buildings converted to large and expensive houses, whose occupants commute out of the valley for most of their needs.
Choppards lies near the head of the Ribble Valley and is part of the eight parish team of the Upper Holme Valley. There is a rich tradition of worship in the valley following the cycle of the year, which included the School Feast on Whit Monday – a procession around the whole valley with banners and a brass band. A big currant bun, a ‘school cake’ was given every child. Whilst this event no longer takes place seasonal worship and particularly harvest, Christmas and Easter are used to witness to the wider community, with services, community meals and fundraising events.
Catherine Day at Armitage Bridge
When I visited it was in use for Associated Board music examinations. The beautiful, small Lady Chapel is regularly used for quiet days, study groups and small services. There are also annual events such as a three day art exhibition. Lettings of the building make a significant contribution to the costs of both the building and the ministry.
Catherine Day has lived in the area of 30 years and been Churchwarden for four years. She was originally a Methodist but started coming to St Paul’s when her children were young, “you should go to church where you live” she said. She reflected that Armitage Bridge was a much busier place now.
Of the 40 strong regular congregation most have some role in the church from ground maintenance to helping to lead worship. There is an active monthly Sunday school and regular workshops for children. Catherine reflected that it was a very successful reordering and that after all “the church is about people”. This church clearly has a warm and welcoming approach to its ministry. The ecumenical and partnership approach with other churches and organisations is important in how St Paul’s serves its large community.
Choppards Mission belongs to Holmfirth church as a mission hall. It was once a school, built in 1839. There were 191 children on the register in 1843. After 1914 with the opening of a new school at Hade Edge, the building was no longer used as a day school but the Sunday school continued, serving the local mill workers, farmers and labourers and their large families. From around 1960 the population of the valley declined as sub-standard buildings were
Choppards Mission
www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk 9
I had the pleasure of meeting Doreen, Doreen, Douglas, Norah, Gillian, Margaret and Megan, who along with Celia Kilner and the vicar Keith Griffin, keep the building open. We met in the small chapel room which was renovated in 2006 by talented members who decorated it with beautiful murals and lettering. When I visited a new kitchen was going in downstairs.
Lets to church groups, Mothers Union and other organisations including a youth theatre group, help with fundraising. The building is also used for retreats and quiet days. This warm and welcoming group of people, some of whom were born in the valley and attended Sunday school in the Mission, work very hard for the community. For some it is the only place they would come to worship; others who now live in Holmfirth attend church there but are committed to worship at Choppards. “The valley would not be the same without it,” said one. This small place of worship is a bright light to Christ shining in the surrounding community.
Jill Hopkinson
50 issues of Country Way
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