Fulneck, Yorkshire - July 2025
News from the Fulneck Congregation is overshadowed by the announcement of Fulneck School’s closure in July. The decision ends nearly three centuries of Moravian education in our Settlement. The rhythm of School has been a backdrop to life here – the sound of the bell announcing the start and end of lessons; laughter and conversation as pupils walked along the north terrace moving from one class to another. High days and holidays. And, come September, it will be no more. The future holds an unwelcome quietness.
Whilst these are sad times, particularly for parents, pupils and staff, the outpouring of genuine grief and loss expressed by so many former pupils speaks volumes about the positive impact Fulneck School had on so many people. I guess we must take some comfort from that. Fulneck School’s annual reunion for former pupils in June attracted over 300. It will conclude with a valedictory thanksgiving service in Church led by former principal of the School, Trevor Kernohan.
Turning the diary pages back to the start of 2025, heavy snow forced the cancellation of our January Lovefeast and the following week’s morning service. The bonus was seeing Fulneck at its wintertime best – under a blanket of snow and thick ice, the buildings and valley illuminated by several days of bright sunshine and cloudless blue skies.
Our congregation is still without a minister. However, our very able church committee continue to find us a varied and interesting supply of preachers. So far this year they’ve included: Sisters Gloria Hanley, Sarah Groves and Diane Thornton; on the Brethren’s side: Brothers Bob Hopcroft, Kenneth Evans, David Howarth, Trevor Auty, Trevor Kernohan and Stephen Gledhill.
Congregation members travelled to Lower Wyke for District Lovefeast and to Wellhouse for a Palm Sunday service and Maundy Thursday Communion. More locally we attended the ‘World Day of Prayer’ service at Pudsey Baptists and joined the Churches Together ‘Walk of Witness’ through Pudsey town centre on Good Friday.
Our Easter Sunday services and breakfast were also well supported with several former School pupils with strong Fulneck family connections travelling quite some distance to join us at 7am! Alongside our regular routine of worship, Holy Habits meetings led by Sr Gloria Hanley were held following services. Weekly bible study also resumed, led by Br Trevor Auty.
Fulneck is a local hub of artistic activity. It’s home to a pottery and a craft centre. Our congregation has its own craft group who meet regularly. In February our Drama Group’s winter production was a well-received play, ‘Home before Dark’ by Coronation Street scriptwriter, Jimmie Chinn. In May they brought the ‘Queen of Crime’, Agatha Christie, to Fulneck with a production of ‘The Stranger’. Musically, we welcomed Leeds Baroque for a celebratory concert. A four-piece ensemble including world renowned trumpeter, Chrispian Steele Perkins performed to an appreciative audience. If you’ve watched ‘The Antiques Roadshow’, Steele-Perkins plays the theme tune’s trumpet.
The next event on the calendar was our annual Sister’s Breakfast in May. And, as these notes are being written, we’re on the eve of Ascension Day.
Fulneck Museum opened for the summer in April. This year there’s a display reflecting the sporting life and achievements of the record-breaking cricketer, Sir Leonard Hutton, who was born and brought up in Fulneck. Archive material has been sourced from Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
And finally, we have two weddings to report. In April Paul Woolford, brother of our most recent Minister, James Woolford, married Louise Robinson. Then, in May it was an equal pleasure to host the wedding of Jenna Williams to William France. Will is the grandson of former Fulneck minister, the late Wilfred Mortimore.
Br Dave Robbins
