Church celebrates 150th anniversary

The church itself was bursting with colour as more than 15 flower displays representing Ravensthorpe’s history filled the building.

Among them was a stunning life-size solider put together using hundreds of handmade poppies.

Children from the Diamond Wood Academy and Ravensthorpe Primary School helped to make some of the displays.

Aside from the flower festival, there was also a brass band concert, an exhibition and a buffet supper.

On Sunday, around 200 people attended a Mass led by the Rev Tony Robinson, area bishop of Wakefield, which also included a performance from Wakefield Cathedral Choir.

And around 800 balloons were released to mark 150 years to the day that the Bishop of Ripon consecrated the completed building.

The church’s exhibition included old parish registers of banns, weddings and baptisms, access to church family records dating back to 1864, and lots of old photographs and memorabilia. Photos of the origins of the church also formed part of a display at Dewsbury West Community Centre to mark the milestone.