St Mary’s Masham saw a double debut recently as Rev Jane Ball was put into post as the new Vicar of the Masham Group of Parishes. The service was led by the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Rev Nick Baines but also present was the new Bishop of Ripon, Rt Rev Anna Eltringham – who only moved into her new home in Yorkshire the day before!

Rev Jane Ball has returned to North Yorkshire where she was ordained in Ripon Cathedral in 2003 and was a curate in Bedale. For the last 18 years she has served down south in a variety of school, parish and military chaplaincy posts.

The Masham Group of Parishes covers a wide area north of Ripon at the gateway to Wensleydale, with churches in Masham, Healey, Well, Snape, West Tanfield and North Stainley.

A packed congregation of people from these churches and the wider community welcomed Jane and her family, who are delighted and excited to be returning to North Yorkshire. Bishop Anna was also warmly welcomed. She succeeds Rt Rev Helen-Ann Hartley, now Bishop of Newcastle, as the Area Bishop of Ripon. She will begin her main ministry in September.

Attached photo shows Rt Rev Nick Baines (Bishop of Leeds), Ven Jonathan Gough (Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven), Rev Jane Ball (Vicar of the Masham Group of Parishes), Rt Rev Anna Eltringham (Bishop of Ripon) after the Service of Institution and Induction in St Mary’s Church Masham.