The Anglican Diocese of Leeds has marked its 10th anniversary this weekend, with a special service at Bradford Cathedral.
The service was in part led by Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, who has been visiting the area as part of the celebrations.
The diocese covers nearly all West Yorkshire, the west of North Yorkshire, some of South Yorkshire and parts of County Durham, Cumbria and Lancashire.
It has three cathedrals, three minsters and 440 parishes supported by lay leaders and worshippers working together across the region from inner cities to remote rural villages.
The Diocesan Bishop of Leeds Rt Rev Nick Baines said: “The last ten years have seen some remarkable people do some very courageous things in letting go of past forms, creating new ones and helping grow a new diocese through constant change.
“In the last ten years we have faced and overcome many challenges – not least COVID and its consequent ongoing impact.
“There will be many more in the future as we seek to be faithful to God and the Church, sacrificially serving our communities and reaching out with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
“Each Anglican Christian and parish church can be confident that the God who calls us is faithful and empowers us by his Holy Spirit to be joyful and confident in our common mission and ministry.
“We look back with gratitude and learning.
“We look forward to the next ten years with joy, confidence and anticipation.”
At the service, the Archbishop of York said: “The story of the Diocese of Leeds is nothing other than the story of God’s love for us in Christ – the story of persistent love, and the story of a love that lives and learns.
“It’s simply the latest chapter in the story of God’s love taking root in this land, establishing itself, then growing and developing according to the needs and opportunities that arise, adapting to the conditions, never changing but always new.
“The Diocese of Leeds – its people, parishes, the beautiful, complex, diverse, challenging communities it serves; this is the place where God is pleased to dwell, and out of this fair land, and built upon this rock, the people of God here, by the power of the Spirit, bear fruit.”
The Diocese came into being in April 2014 when the three dioceses of Bradford, Ripon & Leeds, and Wakefield ceased to be, and the new diocese of West Yorkshire & the Dales (now Leeds) was created. It was the first new diocese to be formed since 1929.
The five areas of the diocese are Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds, Ripon and Wakefield, and each have their own area Bishop.