The Christian life of Helmsley is expressed through three churches: Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic, and there have been good ecumenical relationships and joint activities. The area surrounding Helmsley and Upper Ryedale includes the Christian heritage of Rievaulx, Byland, Ampleforth, Kirkdale and Lastingham – all within a few miles.
The Anglican Church in Helmsley has one parish and four churches and our Priest in Charge is also responsible for our sister parish of Upper Ryedale. Upper Ryedale is one parish with five churches. Our Priest in Charge also serves the Methodist Churches in Helmsley and Rievaulx.
Helmsley is part of the Anglican Deanery of Northern Ryedale, a family of 51 churches linked by the A170, from Upper Ryedale in the West to Upper Derwent in the East. The deanery is a smaller local grouping within the Archdeaconry of Cleveland under the care of the Bishop of Whitby, who has oversight of the outreach, mission and worship of approximately 150 parishes. Together with the Archdeaconries of the East Riding and York, we are in the Diocese of York, 579 churches and 122 schools in 442 parishes. We are committed to the praise of God through Jesus Christ and service to others. We seek to live Christ's story day by day through our faith and work led by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell.
