The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, preached and celebrated Holy Communion on Sunday 30th June at a celebratory thanksgiving service for the 600th anniversary of All Saints’ Church (known as ‘the Cathedral of Ainsty’), Bolton Percy near Tadcaster.
The present building replaced an earlier church on the same site at the initiative of Thomas Parker, Rector from 1411 to 1423, and now includes a Jacobean pulpit, oak box pews, a font that originates from Norman times with a Jacobean cover, and numerous monuments set in the floor and on the walls including one commemorating the Fairfax family.
Complementing the stunning stained-glass windows, a modern window designed by Tom Denny was installed in 2000 to celebrate the Millennium.
Following the service the Archbishop buried a time capsule put together by village children.
Vicar of Askham Bryan, Bolton Percy with Colton and Copmanthorpe (the ‘ABC Churches’) the Revd Geoff Mumford said, “We’ve been looking forward to Archbishop Stephen’s first visit to the ABC Churches and we’re grateful he could join us.”
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said, “All Saints’ is a beautiful testament to six centuries of faith and faithfulness in this village; six hundred years may be a blink in the eye of God but it’s a sign of so many generations who have worshipped here, celebrated, mourned, given thanks and come to meet with God, alone or together as a community.
“It’s a great joy to be part of this anniversary and to join with the village of Bolton Percy in celebrating All Saints’ Church as a witness to the unchanging presence of Jesus Christ, past, present and future.”
