Archbishop Opens Ebor Hall at Archbishop Holgate’s Hospital
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu preached at the Founders Day Evensong for Archbishop Holgate’s Hospital Hemsworth, West Yorks last night. He then blessed and officially opened The Ebor Hall as a new community facility.
The Master of Archbishop Holgate’s Hospital, Fr David Wheatley, said: “We needed a communal building on-site as a meeting place for residents who had nowhere to meet as a group and for the local community to use. We worked with the local planners and conservation officers to have an extension that is in keeping with the listed building. The Parish Church does not have a Hall and it has been fantastic to provide the space for the local community to use, for fundraising events like Cancer Research and for meetings.”
The Ebor Hall is an energy-efficient extension to an existing two-room former mortuary building which was retained. There are new toilet facilities and a large visitor room. It has been named The Ebor Hall in respect of Bishop Robert Holgate, who was born in Hemsworth, and who later became the 59th Archbishop of York in 1545.
Speaking at the Founders Day service of the Hospital, the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, said: “The Kingdom of God is often pictured as a feast to which all are invited. It is wonderful to see the Church continuing this welcome at Archbishop Holgate’s Hospital. I pray that all who come here will experience something of the love of God through the hospitality offered here”.