Poppies will be grown at Huddersfield churches and church schools as an act of remembrance for the centenary of the First World War.
Poppy seeds are being distributed to churches and schools across the newly-created Diocese of Leeds.
Church leaders have designated April 30 as poppy planting day and are urging people to join them to 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 Day (April 20) 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.”
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, welcomed the poppy planting initiative and said: “Here in the grounds of Bishopthorpe we, too, are getting behind this community initiative.
“I have been inspired by the parishes of the new Diocese of Leeds and their shared efforts to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great War.”
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.”
Some dioceses – including Leeds, Oxford, Exeter and Manchester – have sent packets of poppy seeds to all their churches and schools to create their own memorial gardens or flower pots.
Other dioceses are urging their parishes to join the initiative and buy their own seeds.
The Church of England has joined the Royal British Legion Centenary Poppy Campaign in partnership with B&Q which hopes to make the country awash with poppies during the next four years.
Packs of Flanders poppies are on sale at B&Q for £2 with £1 of every packet sold being donated to the Royal British Legion.
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