Children and teachers from the local church of England primary school joined with the congregation at the remote parish of Upper Nidderdale for a Mothering Sunday with a difference including a rousing rendition of the popular Abba song.
More than 200 people took part in services in the parish, and at the hill top church of St Chad’s, Middlesmoor, teachers and pupils from the local Church of England Primary School, Fountains Earth, Lofthouse, joined in – Mrs Jo Metcalfe and Mrs Cheryl Doney who both teach at the school read Bible Readings, whilst Head Teacher, Mrs June Brown led the prayers.
The services were led by the Reverend Nigel Waterfield and Vicar of Upper Nidderdale, Reverend Darryl Hall who said, “We love celebrating all that is good in the Dale and mothers rank highly among the things we are proud of. Candles were lit in memory of those mothers who, sadly, are no longer with us and daffodils were placed into a plain wooden cross in recognition that God loves all of his creation as a mother loves her children. All of the above became a backdrop for the main event when the children sang a Mother's Day interpretation of 'Mamma Mia' and read poems.”