St Alkelda’s Church, Giggleswick

St Alkelda’s Church in Giggleswick is a fine old structure and well positioned in that pretty, higgledy-piggledy village dominated by its large, public school. The church is left open, for which I am always grateful, and the insides are as one might expect: effigies of old knights, an ancient font, and a rather charming, seventeenth-century collection box admonishing passers-by to 'Remember the Pore'. And well might they in this well-heeled corner of North Yorkshire where money appears plentiful, at least judging by the parked cars.

I did not see much in the way of Christian literature which visitors and enquirers might take away and pore over, but there was a whole container dedicated to Climate Change. Copies of Green Christian magazine were available and leaflets urging us to pray for the Cop29 Climate Conference taking place 11-22 November (it was the following February when I dropped in).

Although I like St Alkelda’s and the vicar is pleasant enough, I could not help but wonder that there is a far greater challenge and threat to every single human. It is far worse than shifting weather patterns, wet summers and windy winters: appearing before the Living God to give account of our thoughts, words and actions. This does not terrify you?  Then it ought. Thankfully, we have a Saviour who bore the deserved wrath of all who come to Him. I would far sooner read a leaflet about Him and the hope He gives than a whole library about the secular apocalypse and the globe's human-devised salvation which is currently in fashion.

...that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19