St Hilda's Halifax ... Nearly There!
- Reverend Fr Gregory Hallam
- Aug 3
- 2 min read
This Pilgrimage to Orthodoxy Community is nearly ready to be received into the Church on 6th September. Pastor Doug (far right on the bottom row) started this journey with his people about 2 years ago and by the time everyone is received next month, a one year period of intense preparation will have come to a very satisfactory conclusion. Pastor Doug (for the moment just "Doug") will be ordained to the diaconate on 7th September when Metropolitan Silouan visits St Hilda's for a Hierarchical Liturgy. He will also be assisting in the baptisms and chrismations on 6th September.
The delightful aspect of this picture is that there were 5 people unavoidably missing today (3rd August 2025). Two catechumenate groups are being run simultaneously on a three month rolling start date.
Having worshipped in a local school hall for some time, from 17th August, weekly Orthodox services will now take place in nearby St Malachy's Catholic Church by kind permission of the parish priest, Father Michael McQuinn and the Roman Catholic bishop of Leeds, the Rt. Revd Marcus Stock. The Divine Liturgy (for the moment) will be served monthly. The first Liturgy at St Malachy's will be on 17th August at 11am, but thereafter on the first Sunday of each month. On the other Sundays, non eucharistic Orthodox services will take place (also at 11am). Here is where you will find all the details (the website is being reconstructed).
Fr Gregory (Hallam), the priest in charge (St Aidan of Lindisfarne, Manchester), comments: "I am delighted and privileged to be given the responsibility of caring for and guiding this wonderful community into Holy Orthodoxy. May this be a sign that the Orthodox Church of Antioch is serious about playing its part in healing the historical wounds of western Christianity and expanding the unity and integrity of the faith and life of our fathers and the saints of these Isles". Note: "Pilgrimage to Orthodoxy" is a scheme and a process for receiving whole communities of displaced Christians who are serious about recovering for themselves Orthodox Catholic Christianity.
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