Check out all the latest events on our Concerts page-click here
Food and fellowship at Thornhill- Good News our cafe will be open EVERY Wednesday from the 1st February run by Soroptimist International Dewsbury ( SIDZ cafe) fortnightly -and friends - we need a name for this new venture!
The church will now be open every Wednesday from 10-1.15 for visits.
Our Epiphany day on January 7th 2012
Building Repairs and conservation- it's all go!! as at 9th February 2012
The panelleing is coming down and one can now catch a glimpse into the chapel.
Work on the tower is complete- lots of skilled work has been carried out to ensure the tower is safe for another generation. You can now see the new stone that has gone in and the extensive pointing and stabilisation works. We have a new clock face and the clock is working again. The work on the restoration and conservation of the monuments in the church and Savile Chapel is well under way and lots of colour and beauty is being revealed. Sir George Saville monument by Coulte is being worked on and is almost complete. Our new lighting and power scheme is now almost complete and in use. The medieval glass from the Savile Chapel has now been conserved and installed in an iso thermal frame- protecting the glass and acting as double glazing . Our 'let there be light - bring your heritage to life' Project Development Officer post is Charlotte Derry and she is leading our aim to improve visitor expereinece and knowledge base. Go to the Photographs page and see photos of the Restoration work . We hope to be able to reopen the chapel in February 2012- check for date.Our new sound system is installed and working.
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The Stargazing weekend proved a time for quiet reflection and contemplation for the period of Advent. It involved organisations from the whole local community.
more pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/101555190427929545364/Stargazing?authkey=Gv1sRgCP2VjcKjrJ2cQw#
NEWS ARCHIVE BELOW HERE
Miscellany concert - what a lovely evening we had with Miscellany - once again their star quality shone through and their selection of songs with a Christmas theme was stimulating and exciting.
A slight diversion-- see the photo below and look carefully- Happy Christmice!
Bazaar 19th November 2011 - a really happy day - lots of good food, presents and company. Thank you to all who helped and those who came- we raised about £2400 to help pay our Insurance. Some pictures are available on https://picasaweb.google.com/101555190427929545364/Bazaar2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCNqP4p3x9KSHCQ##
Gift evening 21st October 2011
a hugely enjoyable evening- supper is served
£4414 was raised - thank you to all.
See You tube videos
Karen Lizzie and Maureen sing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHriAVhgsLo
Bethany sings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pEVUEUGRmM&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/user/Brianbre1#p/a/u/0/3z-b-GEOMNo
Wedding Fair at Whitley and Thornhill 22 October
couples as in church on 250 years + of married life
Congratultaions to Jeffery Heaton on being Licensed as a Reader in the Benefice by the Bishop of Pontefract on 16th October 2011
see https://picasaweb.google.com/101555190427929545364/JeffReader?authkey=Gv1sRgCJLsq42Io_Tb-AE#
Major fund raising appeal launched.We launch our fund raising appeal today for £20,000 to help us meet our commitment on the major renovation and consrvation project we are running. Click kere to see the brochure.
Here is the form to make a gift. The gift evening has passed but we still need your gift.
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See our latest You tube video- Harvest Game from Saturday October 8th 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uASJke00drw
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Read the Dewsbury Reporter News story about our Let there be light scheme and our Project Worker http://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/news/local/dewsbury-news/church_gets_heritage_help_1_3776964
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Launch of Let there be light project{ - see the Press Release here
and visit events below
Heritage Open Weekend Saturday 10th September 10-4 Sunday 11-4/
see our
You Tube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijm59UCZ2es&feature=colike first day with children or
see pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/101555190427929545364/HeritageWeekend2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCIqwwLzug5L5ogE#
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thornhill Summer Fair held on 9th July 2011 - a superb day once again we were blessed with fine weather and lots of people taking part and visiting . Wonderful music from our schools and the Deswbury Music Centre Intermediate swing band; Lots to do and lots to eat.. Thanks to all who prepared and supported in any way. The Sacrecrow exhibition involved the local community and some highly original entries. The total amount raised including sponsorship of one of our workers by Barclays Bank will be just over £3000 - well done everyone and thank you.
an uinlikely trio
Lady Gaga by The Rosemont Centre Dewsbury
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The Benefice Rectory Garden Party came back this year and was a wonderful day - lots of fun and fellowship. Thanks to all who joined in and made it a lovely day. We raised £300 for church funds at Thornhill and £100 for Whitley.. Thank You
See the pictures here in good quality : https://picasaweb.google.com/101555190427929545364/RectoryGardenParty2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCNbIyO29-f6dBw#
or on You Tube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YvnKkaGgYg
TeamThornhill tackle Transpennine Trail 
25-29 April 2011
CONGRATULATIONS _ MISSION Accomplished
Cycling over 200miles in five days from Southport to Hornsea on the Transpennine trail.
Eight members of the congregation of Thornhill Parish Church (Angie, David, Elaine, Kate, Marion, Rachel, Reece & Sophia) joined by Jeff & James are cycling over 200miles across the Pennines coast to coast from Southport in Lancashire to Hornsea in Yorkshire. The whole team which includes pensioners, middle-aged and young raised over £2000. for the churh.
We are fundraising for an important educational and information-sharing initiative. The project will also fund better lighting, modern information technology and restoration of the church.
PICTURE ATTACHED Lto R: Sophia; Angie, Marion, Elaine, Kate; David, Rachel and the youngest member Reece Strati -as the Team left Thornhill on Easter Monday bound for their start point from The Marine Drive in Southport.
A Holy- Holy Week and a joyous Easter Day- check out pictures here or see and hear video on
You Tube Here
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Good Friday in the community-
an activity morning for children organised by Churches Together was held at Thornhill Methodist Church prior to a
United Service and procession
to The Cross in Thornhill
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Wednesday in Holy Week saw the Last Supper Oberramergau style held in Thornhill Parish Church. Church people from Churches Together watched a dramatic recreation of the Last Supper had a meal,saw pictures of the Passion Play and heard from members who had visited this play, and celebrated the eucharist together.
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A dramatic re-enactment of the Passion of Christ was performed as part of the service at Thornhill on Palm Sunday morning.
On Palm Sunday afternoon in glorious sunshine friends from Churches Together processed as an act of witness around parts of the Overthorpe Estate. Palm crosses were distributed, songs and bible readings were used at stopping points and even a little magic was used in the story telling for children.
a small part of the group with Jeremiah the donkey
On Tuesday 12th March 2011-Overthorpe School presented Rabboni - the Easter story in words, pictures, and songs in a most moving way to the rest of the school and to church members
Mothering Sunday 2011
Saturday Activity Club and Buggy Praise Fairtrade on Saturday 5th March and Tuesday March 16th we talked about Fairtrade and Mara and Made and did lots of activiites
Buggy Praise
see us on You tube
------------------------------------------------------------------Historic church wins big grant...
PARISHIONERS at Dewsbury’s only Grade I-listed church have secured more than £200,000 towards renovation work.
The Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels in Church Lane, Thornhill, is to benefit from a £190,000 English Heritage grant.
It goes towards the £250,000 cost of repairing the church’s 15th century tower, south porch and lychgate.
Site drainage will also be improved, work will be done on the gutters and downpipes . A separate grant of £10,000 has been awarded by the National Churches’ Trust for the restoration of nine 15th century windows.
Several smaller payments have also been secured from various charitable bodies towards restoring numerous statues.
The Savile Chapel monuments and the statue of Sir George Savile, which was made in 1622, are among those to get a makeover.
The building was cited as one of the most important churches in Britain in a book by the historian and journalist Simon Jenkins.
Rector the Rev Sue Clarke and project manager Brian Pearson are spearheading the drive. Congregation members are also raising additional funds. Mr Pearson said: “These grants will enable this unique building to be preserved.” 'Dewsbury Press'
This will mean that the Savile Chapel will be closed to visitors for probably the next 9 months ( until January 2012 at least). Please ring before making a long journey.
see also link here
see photos of work in progress here https://picasaweb.google.com/101555190427929545364/
WorkProgress?authkey=Gv1sRgCIrt0cH_xZ3bxgE#
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Visit Thornhill Parish Church on You Tube