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10
Nov 2020
Church bell chimes nightly in Nidderdale
A church bell is being rung in the heart of Nidderdale each evening throughout November, as the power of prayer is harnessed during the pandemic.
With communal worship banned during lockdown, Christians are being encouraged to participate in a month of reflection in their homes, focusing on issues of national concern arising from the coronavirus crisis.
The Rev. Alastair Ferneley, Vicar of Dacre with Hartwith and Darley with Thornthwaite, is ensuring that Nidderdale's daily tea-time chime joins those ringing out at cathedrals and churches across England.
He told the Stray Ferret:
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The call for a daily collective moment of national prayer signalled by the sound of bells, has the support of senior religious leaders from many different denominations.
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said:
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, added:
Christians are being encouraged to follow a seven-day prayer cycle, praying for a specific area each day, including the NHS and frontline workers, the bereaved, and those struggling with physical and mental ill-health, and for children and young people.
Prayers and other resources are being shared on social media with the hashtag #PrayerForTheNation
Rev Alastair is keeping his parishioners updated. He said:
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