THE first wedding in the near-120-year history of a church in
Yorkshire took place last weekend.
The couple, Leigh Procter and Kielly Collings, were the first to
make their vows at Christ Church, East Layton, near Richmond, North
Yorkshire, since it was built in 1895.
For much of the Grade II listed building's history, it was a
private chapel of ease for its builder, Maynard Proud, and her
descendants, who still own much of the surrounding village. Now,
however, her great-great-nephew, Captain John Trotter, is keen to
see it in regular use, and has recently spent £20,000 on
restoration.
The Priest-in-Charge of Christ Church, the Revd Andrew Pell,
said that Mrs Proud had had her own private entrance. "At one time,
the family gave a cottage to a retired priest to say prayers there
every day, and conduct a weekly service for them, but things have
changed."
Although Christ Church, which is modelled on Worcester
Cathedral, holds two services a month, it is not licensed for
marriages, and so the Archbishop of York had to be asked for a
special licence.
