ADDINGHAM Civic Society’s Blue Plaque scheme notched up its fifth building on Sunday when a plaque was unveiled at St Peter’s Church.

The plaque records Archbishop Wulfhere of York’s visit to Addingham in 867AD to escape the Viking invasion, that it had been a place of Christian worship for over a thousand years and continues to be a living church serving the whole community, and that it is a listed building and scheduled ancient monument.

Before the unveiling the plaque was covered by two banners, one displaying the crest of the Vavasour family who had been lords of the manor for several centuries and the other depicting an early Christian symbol incorporating a fish, boat, and cross. After a welcome from the Rector, the Rev Jill Perrett, and an explanation of the scheme from Ken Birch of the Civic Society the plaque was unveiled by the Archdeacon of Bradford, the Venerable Dr Andy Jolley. St Peter’s is a Grade 1 listed building and believed to be the oldest of the 60 plus churches in the Bradford area and the archdeacon praised the church members for their care of the building.

Jim Robinson, chairman of the Addingham Civic Society, and Geoff Hairsine, who heads up the Blue Plaque initiative, said how pleased they were to see the sign go up at the church, even if it had taken rather a long time. Professor Arthur Francis, church warden, responded with the quote known to all Anglican church wardens, that though the mills of God may grind fine, they grind exceeding slow.