A champagne fountain, a pair of bishops and Handel’s Zadok the Priest were just some of the highlights of a special weekend marking the completion of the £600,000 refurbishment of Otley Parish Church at the end of February.
Associate Priest, the Revd Paul Walker, said, "Hundreds of people participated in two days of hospitality, worship and celebration of a project which goes back several years.
"On the Saturday, a constant stream of people came to view stalls and prayer stations, enjoy coffee and cakes in the café, and simply to gaze in wonder at the transformation that has taken place.
"The official opening was done by local MP Greg Mulholland, who poured a champagne fountain. (Which, he said, after 10 years of opening buildings and projects, was a first for him)."
There was also entertainment from the All Saints orchestra, the Prince Henry School choir, and a fanfare of Zadok the Priest from the Otley Choral Society.
On Sunday morning, a large congregation gathered for a celebration Communion service led by the Bishop Paul Slater and in the afternoon Bishop Nick Baines preached at the Civic Service of Dedication.
Paul Walker adds, "It was a wonderful weekend. And now the work begins – as we seek to grow, as Bishop Paul said, ‘both in spiritual depth, and also numerically’."