Lay Carmelites picnicking in the grounds of Rievaulx before the service.
Among the evocative ruins at Rievaulx is the large stone of the high altar. In recent years a campaign was led by the late Christopher Bryant, an Anglican parishioner in the nearby town of Helmlsey, to raise the altar back to table height so that it could be used by the groups of pilgrims who visit the site.
The service of rededication, organised by Helmsley Anglican Parish and English Heritage, took place in beautiful sunshine.
Clergy processing into the Abbey ruins.
The service was led by the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, and fellow Anglican Rt. Rev. Paul Ferguson, Bishop of Whitby. The service was attended by various ecumenical guests, including the Catholic
Bishop of Middlesbrough, Rt. Rev. Terence Drainey, and the Chair of the Methodist District of York and Hull, Revd. Stephen Burgess.
Bishops Paul and Terence processing together.
Recognising the Catholic origins of the site, the service began with prayers led by Bishop Terence, who blessed water and sprinkled it on the altar and worshippers as a sign of spiritual renewal.
Bishop Terence Drainey blessing water for the rite of asperges.
Bishop Terry blessing the altar stone.
The high altar has been raised to table height again on slabs of York stone.
Rievaulx is one of many
monastic sites in Yorkshire, alongside places such as Fountains, Mount Grace, Jervaulx, and Byland. The memory of this monastic heritage is partly what encouraged a community of Benedictine monks to establish a monastery at
Ampleforth in 1802. The Prior of Ampleforth Abbey, Fr. Terence Richardson, read an extract of Spiritual Friendship by
St. Aelred of Rievaulx (1110-67), the site’s most famous abbot.
Fr. Terence reading the beautiful words of St. Aelred on friendship.
A number of other religious communities were among the congregation, including the
Order of the Holy Paraclete (an Anglican Order often known as the Whitby Sisters), and members of
York Carmelite Spirituality Group.
A moving sermon highlighting the significance of the occasion was preached by the Bishop of Whitby, Paul Ferguson.
Bishop Paul Ferguson preaching.
The service was attended by many people from the local area.
The setting sun shone through the ruins.
The Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, rededicated the altar by making the sign of the cross on the stone five times with oil of chrism.
The Archbishop of York incensing the altar.
The Archbishop marking the altar with the oil of chrism.
The altar was dressed with a linen cloth.
Pilgrims at prayer.
Long after its dissolution, Rievaulx remains a place of prayer and reflection
