Friends of Christ the Consoler

15/08/2026

We are delighted and grateful for the coverage in today’s Yorkshire Post. A great article by Phil Penfold and Christ the Consoler never fails to shine in photos. He quotes Professor James Steven’s Curl who said the church is one of only five buildings in the whole of the UK as being a place where we can still “experience something of the Victorian mastery of colour, detail and architectural grandeur.” All the other buildings Professor Curl picked are in or near London, two of them being the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Cathedral. As the article says, “Christ the Consoler is that significant”. If you would like to support our Project 150 then please visit www.christtheconsoler.com
Newby Hall & Gardens Faith in the North The Churches Conservation Trust Ripon Cathedral

06/08/2026

A special day today. William Burges, the architect of Christ the Consoler created the concept for our stunning stained glass windows. Then Horatio Lonsdale, principle designer, produced detailed stained glass designs from those concepts. Then Frederick Weekes prepared the full sized cartoons from those designs, refining figures and details ready for manufacture. These were passed to William Gualbert Saunders whose studio manufactured and fired the glass, translating those designs into finished windows … and this teamwork produced some of the finest Victorian stained glass in a church. Today is special as we welcomed a visitor (pictured) who is the great great granddaughter of Saunders. She is on a pilgrimage visiting his work. Like so many of our visitors, she absolutely loved the richness of the design of Christ the Consoler … including her great great grandfather’s incredible work on the windows.
Newby Hall & Gardens The Churches Conservation Trust Faith in the North

08/07/2026

We are excited to share the third event in our Summer 26 series - as we welcome the York Theatre Royal Associate Company, BADAPPLE THEATRE as they perform their hit comedy BACK TO THE LAND GIRLS on 16th September.

Tickets on sale now via www.christtheconsoler.com/events/

24/06/2026

As the church observes the Nativity of St John the Baptist today (24th June), we share a view of our baptismal font cover with Jesus and John the Baptist.
Faith in the North Ripon Cathedral St Helen's Church The Churches Conservation Trust Boroughbridge Churches

22/06/2026

We need your help, specifically, we need you to click on the link and complete our Community Survey which we are undertaking as part of our fundraising for Project 150 (marking 150 years since we were opened) which will restore conservation heating and our Grade I Thomas C Lewis organ. This is not about going to church but about the church, the community asset, the events venue. We need your views. And the deadline is this Sunday (28th June) so please click now …

Have your say on Christ the Consoler and Project 150. Responses are anonymous. Closing date: Sunday 28 June 2026.

16/06/2026

Tomorrow (Weds 16th) at 6pm join us for our monthly short service of Compline (Night Prayer) in Christ the Consoler. You can find us by driving through the main gate to Newby Hall and turning first right off the drive towards the church. It’s a beautiful reflective service, a moment of calm in our hectic world.
The Churches Conservation Trust St Helen's Church Faith in the North Boroughbridge Churches Ripon Cathedral

10/06/2026

As we enter our 150th year, we need to hear your views about Christ the Consoler. Click on the link, it's anonymous, and will help us make things even better.

We will also be using the results as part of our fundraising, as grant providers love to see how passionate and engaged people are about the places they are going to fund. Therefore we need as many people to complete it as possible - spread the word!

The deadline is Sunday 27th June so please click now.

Please click the link to complete this form.

04/06/2026

A lovely message from Rev’d Claire Renshaw, the priest of our Benefice which includes our two Skelton on Ure churches, Christ the Consoler & St Helen’s :

31/05/2026

On Sunday 7th June at 4pm, we are delighted to host this year’s Holy Eucharist with Baptism and Confirmation Service for all fourteen churches between Kirby Hill and Green Hammerton. It has been over 50 years since we have had the pleasure of welcoming a Bishop of Ripon to Christ the Consoler! Rt Rev Anna Eltringham will be presiding and preaching at the service.
Everyone is welcome to join this special occasion, please come to support the candidates and Christ the Consoler. The service will be followed by refreshments.
Newby Hall & Gardens St Helen's Church Ripon Cathedral Boroughbridge Churches The Churches Conservation Trust Faith in the North