Choppards Mission

Choppards Mission is in a beautiful pastoral setting near the head of the Ribble Valley in Holmfirth Parish. It was built in 1839 for the purpose of teaching the illiterate children of the surrounding hamlets reading, writing and instruction in the Christian religion. Families were large and there were 191 children on the register in 1843, a huge number considering the small size of the building. It was quite common for pupils to work in the mill in the valley and attend school half time. This continued until Hade Edge Council School was built in 1899, when some pupils were transferred there. Later Holmfirth Council School was built and Choppards was no longer needed as a day school after 1914. However, the Sunday School continued to be at the heart of the community, having some outstanding and dedicated workers. The church festivals provided a structured framework for the years’ activities and the lives of the villagers revolved around these. 

From about 1960 onwards there was a decline in the population, many of the primitive cottages were demolished, and the congregation attending the Sunday School became very much depleted. The faithful members were now struggling to meet the ever increasing expenses of repairs to the building and providing adequate heating in the large hall, and in 1983 they decided to make the small upper classroom into a chapel. This involved a lot of hard work for such a small group, but it provided a more comfortable room for the services. On completion of the work, the then Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Revd David Hope, later Archbishop of York, performed a Service of Dedication.

The building is now a popular venue for church groups and for private hire, also being used as a rehearsal room by a local theatre group. In December it provides a wonderful setting for the Candlelit Carol Service which is always very well attended. 

The Mission Church is part of the Upper Holme Valley Group of Churches, and the Team Vicar is Revd Keith Griffin. Services continue to be held in the Worship Room on the first Sunday of the month, a eucharist at 3pm, and also some additional services. In 2006 after more fundraising, the chapel was totally renovated in a very striking and beautiful way, by a volunteer team of church members who are talented artists. The result is quite exceptional, and when the Bishop of Wakefield, The Rt Revd Stephen Platten, rededicated the room in September 2006, there was a large congregation of past and present members.

Today the numbers are showing signs of steadily increasing, as friends discover the warm welcome shown to all who visit Choppards Mission, whether it be for worship of for one of the fundraising events which are held. There is a real community spirit amongst the small band of workers and a determination to keep the Mission open, when so many of the smaller places of worship have closed. With God’s Grace, we hope to do this.