Archbishop of York to help mark Bolton Priory anniversary (From Ilkley Gazette)

Archbishop of York to help mark Bolton Priory anniversary

1:21pm Friday 1st February 2013 in News

Bolton Priory will welcome the Archbishop of York on Sunday as it celebrates its 150th anniversary of becoming an independent parish.

The occasion will be celebrated at the 10.30am service by the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York

The Priory Church of Bolton Abbey was initially founded in 1154 by a group of Augustinian monks. They were very much involved in the local village life, preaching, teaching, running a hospital, sheltering travellers and ministering to the local community who came to worship in the priory.

In 1539, at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the community was closed down, most of the buildings being allowed to fall into ruin.

Only one part of the property was preserved, which was preserved as a Church of England parish church for the people of the village of Bolton Abbey.

However, it was not a parish in its own right, but was instead made subordinate to Skipton Parish Church.

Over the years the lands around it were acquired by the Dukes of Devonshire, and the Priory Church increasingly benefited from their patronage, until in 1863 Bolton Priory became a parish in its own right.