Ryedale Methodist Circuit - North Yorkshire

Our lovely Chapel is situated at the top of the picturesque village of Rievaulx, 2 miles north of Helmsley, just off the B1257 Helmsley to Stokesley Road where the River Rye flows on its way through the valley alongside the beautiful ruins of Rievaulx Abbey.

The Chapel is available for people to go in and spend time in quietness and reflection.

Rievaulx Methodist Church

Rievaulx is a small pretty village nestled in the Rye valley of the North York Moors on the banks of the River Rye. There has been a Christian presence in the village for thousands of years since the time that the Cisterian monks built their spectacular monastry of Rievaulx Abbey. Today, as thousands of tourists come to see the Abbey Ruins (English Heritage) and the beautiful valley landscape we hope that they will stop a moment to realise that there is a God who created all of this.

Christian worship continues in the village in the 21st century. The Methodist Church, built in 1877, is situated at the top of the village and the Anglican Church is also nearby.

As a Church serving the needs of the 21st century we seek to :

· bring people of all ages into a loving relationship with Jesus xChrist as their own personal Saviour
· be a welcoming Church offering Christian worship for those xwithin the local community and beyond
· increase awareness of God's presence and love for all ages
· encourage people to grow in their Christian faith
· be a good neighbour to people in need through offering love, xcare and support

WEEKLY/MONTHLY MEETINGS:-

Sunday Services:-
Church Family Worship 2nd & last Sundays in month at 10.30 a.m.
Evening Worship at 6.30 p.m.

Sunday School - 1st & 3rd Sundays in month at 10.30 a.m.
(Sec: Mrs. Sheila Foster – Tel: 01439 770589
email: sm.foster@hotmail.co.uk)

Prayer Group - 1st Monday in month at 7.00 p.m. in the Sunday School.
(Contact: Mr John Foster, Tel: 01439 770589)

Bible Fellowship - Wednesday at 7.00 p.m. - venue and date as announced.
(Contact: Mr Edward Garbutt, Tel: 01751 430844)

Musical Evenings - as announced
(Contact: Mr John Foster, Tel: 01439 770589).

Thursday Fellowship Evenings - monthly November-March
(Sec: Mrs. Jean Bowes, Tel: 01439 798216)

Youth Group – First Friday in month at 7.30 p.m. for young people in years 6 + - venue as announced. (Contact: Miss Claire Foster, Tel: 01439 770589)

YF – Youth Fellowship group with Helmsley Methodist Church on Friday evenings (except 1st Friday in month) at 8.00 p.m. for young people in years 9 + in the home of David & Vivienne Emison. (Contact: David Emison)

“Quiet Days” - Rievaulx Chapel is situated in the beautiful Rye valley. The village is a popular venue for tourists visiting the Cistercian ruins of Rievaulx Abbey. It is also an ideal place to sit and be quiet or to have a short stroll when you can take in the beautiful scenery. The Chapel can be used by visiting groups from other Churches who want a quiet venue for a service or for a whole day. (Contact: Mrs. Sheila Foster, Tel: 01439 770589)

Singing Group - The Church has a singing group who enjoy leading worship in music, testimony and word within the local Church and Circuit and beyond.

See Calender of Events below for variations and extra events.

ALSO SEE CIRCUIT EVENTS & SERVICE PLAN

All services and groups are open to all who are interested. These and other events, including the appointed preacher for services are shown on the weekly notice sheet. For further information contact:


Our People:
Superintendent Minister: Rev David Emison
Tel 01439 770300. davidemison@ryedalemethodist.org.uk
Church Council Secretary: Mr Edward Garbutt. 38 Queensway, Kirkbymoorside
Local Contacts:
Mr John Foster (Tel: 01439 770589)
Mrs Joyce Ashbridge (Tel: 01845 597389)
Mr Nicholas Dunn (Tel: 01439 770445)
Mr. David Sanderson (Tel: 01439 771493)
Mr. George Moules (Tel: 01439 770508)


Finance

The Church is financially dependent on the giving of local members. Offering envelopes are available for those who would like to give regularly. Gift Aid forms are available for taxpayers who are able to enhance their giving through this tax scheme

Please join us for any of the services during the year -
we would love to see you!

February
12th 6.30 p.m. Rievaulx Sunday Evening Special led by John & Sheila Bainbridge from Barningham, Richmond.

25th 7.30 p.m. Rievaulx Musical Evening led by “Sweet Fellowship” from Malton Circuit.

29th 7.00 p.m. Lent Group begins in Rievaulx Sunday School. (Five weekly sessions)

March
18th 6.30 p.m. Rievaulx Sunday Evening Special led by Rievaulx Singing Group.

April
1st 10.30 a.m. Rievaulx Palm Sunday procession through the village

29th Rievaulx - Chapel Anniversary:-
10.30 a.m. Church Family Worship followed by communal lunch
6.30 p.m. Evening Worship
Both services led by Rev. Phil Dew from Tebay, Cumbria.

May
12th 7.30 p.m. Rievaulx – Evening of Music and Testimony with John Gaughan from Nafferton, Driffield

20th 6.30 p.m. Rievaulx Sunday Evening Special led by Tim Woolley & Sanctuary Worship Group from Guisborough.

June
17th 6.30 p.m. Rievaulx Sunday Evening Special led by Rev. Susan Greenwood

July
14th 6.30 p.m. Rievaulx Treasure Hunt and supper

August
5th
3.00 p.m. Rievaulx Open Air Service in the Cricket Field, Rievaulx. Preacher: Mr. Steve Redman, from York followed by communal tea in Rievaulx Village Hall.
6.30 p.m. Rievaulx Evening Worship led by Steve Redman

October
14th 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m. Rievaulx Harvest Thanksgiving Services.
10.30 a.m. All Age Worship
o6.30 p.m. Evening Worship led by Mr. Andrew Fawcett from Ingleton.

On the flyleaf of the Pulpit Bible at Rievaulx Methodist Church is the following inscription:-
"Presented to Mrs. MARY JOHNSON"

by her neighbours and friends in acknowledgement of her kindness in providing for many years at great personal inconvenience a place for the Wesleyans at Rievaulx to hold their religious services, and also in testimony of their high estimation of the eminently peaceful and consistent character she has so long maintained amongst them. April, 1876."
These words provide the only written support for the testimony of former members to the effect that before this Chapel was opened on Whit Monday, 21st May 1877, the Rievaulx Methodist services and meetings were held in a cottage near the old Mill. Presumably this was the home of Mrs. Mary Johnson, to whom the Bible was presented twelve months before the dedication of the Chapel. It would also appear that a descendant of this good lady has subsequently given this very Bible back to the Trustees for use in the pulpit here. It is interesting also to speculate on the nature of that "great personal inconvenience" suffered by Mrs. Johnson in providing a place for the "Wesleyans of Rievaulx". Have they always been a boisterous company, making a "joyful noise unto the Lord", and, like their New Testament forebears, a disturbing influence, a constant challenge to those who demand "peace at any price"?
All honour to those who provided the place; and all praise to God who owned and blessed the meeting of those Methodists more than one hundred and thirty years ago!

To attempt even a brief historical sketch of any Methodist institution is a frustrating task. Methodists haven't been all that methodical in preserving records, and in a place like Rievaulx, in the shadow of this wonderful Abbey that dates back to 1131, it is understandable that our beginnings seem but yesterday. But it can be a matter for gratitude that our concern has always been for people rather than for places; for the community more than for the Church building . Rievaulx Methodists have been too busy about the work of the kingdom to be slavishly occupied in writing "minutes" and keeping records.

In the mid 1950's the then Trustees of the Chapel decided that there was a need to extend the Chapel premises to include a school room, kitchen and toilets. After much fund raising the premises were completed and were opened on Saturday 29th April 1967 by Mrs. Alice Taylor daughter of one of the original Trustees and who in her childhood was a member of the Sunday School. Following the opening the work of the Sunday School grew and Monthly Gospel Rallies were commenced which were a new venture in the area. The Chapel and Sunday School premises were often packed on these Saturday evenings with mainly young people some of who had come up to 50 miles to hear a Gospel Group and special Preacher. Our Guests too had also travelled long distances to join us, but through the message they gave many lives were challenged and commitments made.

Those who serve and worship in the Church now look back with thanksgiving to God for his guidance in the past and look forward with confidence to his guidance in the days that lie ahead.