New diocese for region to mark Great War centenary

Poppy packets are being distributed to every church school and churches across the new diocese and senior church leaders have designated April 30 as poppy planting day and are urging everyone to join them and sow their poppy seeds on that day to mark their identity as a new diocese together and remember all those who lost their lives in the Great War.

The new Diocese of Leeds, informally known as the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales, comes into being on Easter Sunday when the three existing dioceses of Wakefield, Bradford, Ripon and Leeds are formally dissolved.

The Rt Revd Nick Baines, the new bishop designate for the new diocese, said: “A century is not a long time, but only 100 years ago the world fell apart in the most violent way. This simple act of growing poppies reminds us of our past and is a very visual way of pledging ourselves to serve together in the future.

“I’m glad that our new diocese recognises the past while looking to shape the future. I’m proud to commend this campaign.”

Some dioceses, including the new Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales, have sent packets of poppy seeds to all their churches and/or church schools to create their own memorial gardens or flower pots.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby has recorded a short message urging people in all the parishes across the Church of England to plant poppy seeds ‘to remember the terrible events of the First World War and as a sign of our hope in Jesus Christ for peace in the future.’

To see Archbishop Justin’s message, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQusWTMm2gU&feature=youtu.be