The newly installed Bishop of Huddersfield, Jonathan Gibbs was at Wakefield Cathedral when it was filled with more than 700 Mothers’ Union members.

From every corner of the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales they gathered for an Advent carol service.

Members had travelled from as far afield as Catterick as well as nearer to the cathedral as the three groups of the previous diocese began their journey to become members of the new diocese working together to advance the work of the Mothers’ Union which seeks to serve families worldwide.

Lynne Tembey, the World-wide President of the Mothers’ Union addressed them.

She thanked them for all they had already done in their separate diocese and encouraged them to embrace this new opportunity for service in the enlarged diocese.

As well as Mrs Tembey the Provincial President of York and the three joint Presidents of West Yorkshire and the Dales were present.

Mrs Cynthia Osborne, a member of Almondbury Branch of the Mothers’ Union and Joint President for Wakefield in West Yorkshire and the Dales, thanked Mrs Tembey for her address and welcomed the Bishop of Huddersfield to his first Mothers’ Union Service, hoping it would not be his last.

The service concluded with the Bishop giving his blessing.