Author: Catherine Lee

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Late-Night Christmas Shopping @ Sedbergh

Catherine Lee

Every year at the beginning of December, a grand evening is held here in Sedbergh, Cumbria for the official launch of Christmas season, and last night was THE night!  All the shops stayed open till 8:00pm or later serving mulled wine, mince pies, sweets and chocolates, many offering discounts to encourage us all to do our Christmas shopping…. At 6:00pm the church bells started ringing and Father Christmas came along Sedbergh Main Street in the Sedbergh Fire Engine, preceded by the Town Crier ringing his bell, then the Sedbergh Gala Queen switched on the Christmas lights, and the evening was … Continue reading Late-Night Christmas Shopping @ Sedbergh

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Top of the World @ Tan Hill Inn

Catherine Lee

Yep, the highest inn in the whole country, Tan Hill Inn, at 1,732 feet (528 m) above sea level ~ and off we went yesterday for lunch, after a sharp frost but in bright sun – yes glorious sun!  My first ever visit ~ just how could I have never been there?! Actually located only 28 miles from us here in Sedbergh, via Hawes over the Buttertubs Pass and up from Keld…. and only 26 miles back via Kirkby Stephen… What scenery ~ the top of Wensleydale, Buttertubs, top of Swaledale and then Tan Hill itself ~ and what a destination!  Built in the … Continue reading Top of the World @ Tan Hill Inn

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Bishop Leonard Wilson Memorial @ Askrigg Church, Wensleydale

Catherine Lee

Yesterday ~ a sharp frost, but bright sun all day, and at my father’s suggestion, went to check out Askrigg Church in Wensleydale, N. Yorkshire to see the memorial to Bishop Leonard Wilson, most famous for being Bishop of Singapore during the Japanese occupation, when he was imprisoned and tortured…. His sermon of how he suffered, yet kept the faith, shared the Gospel with some of his captors and led some of them to faith is retold in his sermon here, published in 1946.  He retired to Askrigg in 1969 and although he died only a year later, he clearly … Continue reading Bishop Leonard Wilson Memorial @ Askrigg Church, Wensleydale

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Wakefield Cathedral

Catherine Lee

Wakefield Cathedral gets the prize for being the most visitor-friendly cathedral that I’ve been to so far!  Definitely #1.  And my first ever visit yesterday ~ I was most impressed! Because? Well, they welcome visitors to do things – like walk around their new labyrinth, throw coins at a model of the cathedral trying to hit the bell (not the quietest of activities, but I loved it!), light candles, and guess what?  Yes, even take photos! Somewhat ironic that Wakefield City is a nightmare of a maze to drive around with signposts of place names and roads that kind of seem … Continue reading Wakefield Cathedral

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CMS Link Visit to Sandal Parish, Wakefield

Catherine Lee

A whole weekend at one of my favourite CMS Link Churches, the parish of Sandal Magna, which includes St. Helen’s Church in Sandal, St. Paul’s Church in Walton and Portobello ~ all now in the brand-new Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales… St. Helen’s Church has just opened a brand-new Tree of Life Memorial Garden, definitely worth checking out! It being the 5th Sunday of the month, there was one joint service for everyone, held at St. Paul’s Church, Walton – and as it was Advent Sunday too, it was of course all extra-special. A beautiful service, full church, lots … Continue reading CMS Link Visit to Sandal Parish, Wakefield

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Tree of Life Memorial Garden @ St. Helen’s Church, Sandal Magna, Wakefield

Catherine Lee

You’ve just gotta go and see this, it’s truly amazing, honest! A brand-new Tree of Life Memorial Garden for the interment of ashes, unique in the whole world, and right there in the churchyard of St. Helen’s Church, Sandal Magna, Wakefield! The parish of Sandal Magna is one of my most wonderful CMS Link Churches, so on my visit there this past weekend, I just had to go and see the Memorial Garden…. It really deserves to be more widely known, and the vicar Rupert Martin has kindly given me permission to use some of his original photos and info … Continue reading Tree of Life Memorial Garden @ St. Helen’s Church, Sandal Magna, Wakefield

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St. Matthew’s and St. Luke’s Church, Darlington

Catherine Lee

One of my wonderful CMS Link Churches, St. Matthew’s and St. Luke’s Church in Brinkburn Road, Darlington, is now linked up with my home church in Heighington and has the same vicar, Lissa ~ so I was there last Sunday morning to share with them, and to thank everyone for their support…. Delighted to have my first experience of Cafe Church, it was wonderful. Such a blessing! The congregation sits around circular tables at the back of the church and the style is informal – but still very much a service.  Just before my talk in the sermon slot, there’s a … Continue reading St. Matthew’s and St. Luke’s Church, Darlington

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Heighington, Co. Durham

Catherine Lee

What a wonderful village ~ and what wonderful memories! Heighington, Co. Durham is where I started teaching (Reception Class, aged 4-5) way back in 1985, and although I was there only 4 years, it was home ~ and a great place to be.  And it was from there that off I went to join CMS and so to Tanzania and Taiwan ~ so it’s my home church too…. Fast forward to last week, and there I was back in Heighington for a whole week, yippee! Staying with lovely friends, Anne and Nev, meeting up with new vicar Lissa, speaking in Heighington … Continue reading Heighington, Co. Durham