It is fitting in this Easter season to say Allelulia – but something else to have it spray painted on the roof of your church – especially when your church is Wakefield Cathedral.
But that is exactly what the Dean and Chapter have done - to celebrate the city’s role in the Tour de Yorkshire. Wakefield Cathedral is one of many churches and church halls across the diocese to open their doors and hang out the bunting to mark the first ever cycle race through God's Own County. The Dean of Wakefield, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener said: “Alleluia is the great Easter shout of joy for Christian people, so it is appropriate in this Easter season to have this writ large on our roof.
“And we are blessed that we have the opportunity to do this, as work starts next week on renewing this section of the roof thanks to a grant from the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repair Fund,” he added.
The black and bright pink lettering, pictured here in its early stages, – which spells ALLEZ- LUIA – in homage to last year’s Tour de France - spans the nave section of the cathedral roof – some 28 metres long - where this weekend the city’s iconic building will play host to some of the biggest names in the cycling world as it welcomes Stage 3 of the Tour De Yorkshire on Sunday 3 May.
Earlier this week, Wakefield Cathedral played host to the official handover of the specially-commissioned Tour de Yorkshire trophy when the Mayor of Bridlington presented it to the Mayor of Wakefield. It went on show in the city for three days before being handed over to Leeds City Council who will host the final when the cyclists compete to get over the finishing line in Roundhay Park on Sunday evening.
Bunting and has gone up round the Cathedral and the graffiti is part of a range of fun activities to celebrate Wakefield’s role in the first ever Tour De Yorkshire when the city hosts the start of the 167 kilometre third leg of the event which will see the peloton make a return to some of the roads raced in the 2014 Yorkshire Grand Départ of the Tour de France.
In Meltham the four churches that make up the Parish of Christ the King are at the heart of family celebrations for the Tour which will pass through the village around 1.30pm on Sunday 3.
The churches of St. Bartholomew’s, Meltham ,Christ Church, Helme, St James’, Meltham Mills and St Mary’s Wilshaw have organised a big weekend fundraiser with a race night, hog roast, real lae bar, local youth band and includes the village’s much anticipated scarecrow festival on Monday which raises thousands of pounds for two special local charities, the Tom Wroe Charity and Street Bikes.
And on Sunday evening all seven churches that make up Meltham Churches Together will hold their very own Songs of Praise in St Bartholomew’s from 5pm.
Church members have already been voting for their favourite hymns and top of the pops so far include Great is thy faithfulness , Love Divine and Can It Be.
The Vicar, the Revd Maureen Reed said: “We have such a fantastic community here and we are right at the heart of it and wanted to put on a party for everyone to come together, watch the race and raise some funds to give something back to all those who helped us raise the money we needed to restore our clock tower and who support us faithfully week in week out.”
Other events are planned in Cumberworth and Wakefield Cathedral is hosting a VIP reception, family fun and craft activities including antics from the clowning duo, the Rapide Brothers, a family BBQ and refreshments, and cycling themed arts and crafts in the nave.
The Dean of Wakefield, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener said: “ It’s an honour to have been chosen as the public face of Wakefield to host this momentous occasion and we are pleased to have been able to work closely with the council to achieve this and together play our part in putting our city firmly on the map.”
You can watch a time lapse film of Graffitiartists2hire spray painting Wakefield Cathedral roof this week at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-FiF_jqtuQ
The Tour de Yorkshire starts in the seaside town of Bridlington on Friday and 174km later will finish further up the coast in Scarborough. Stage Two will see the race start outside Selby Abbey and take in much of the Yorkshire Wolds before a lap of honour round York. Stage 3 will start in Wakefield, travel south to Barnsley before heading to Holmfirth where they pick up the Grand Départ route in reverse, racing to Ripponden before riding the iconic Cragg Vale. The riders will then make their way to Hebden Bridge, Oxenhope and through the famous cobbled streets of Haworth. After a steep climb at Goose Eye the riders will once again see Ilkley, with the famous climb up the Cow & Calf before a sprint point at Arthington and then what is expected to be a hugely popular finish line in Roundhay Park in Leeds