Barry Hill
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bishopbarry.bsky.social
Barry Hill
@bishopbarry.bsky.social
530 followers 180 following 430 posts
Hope, grace, life. #bhafc. Bishop of Whitby. Serving across the Diocese of York, especially from #Middlesbrough & the Tees to the Vale of Pickering, & Thirsk to Whitby. Chair of Board of Education. Geriatric millennial.
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bishopbarry.bsky.social
Quite the choir for tonight’s Solemn Evensong at St Lawrence’s York @dioceseofyork.bsky.social as we explored what the Kingship of Christ looks like amidst the current waters in which we find ourselves. Cracking music, lovely community, good wine, fabulous evening.
A choir of 40 people robed at the back of church
November 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Much joy at confirmations in Sowerby @dioceseofyork.bsky.social this morning.

On the feast of Christ the King their hand knitted donkey proved an unexpected visual aid as to the contrast between the Kingship of Christ & the Roman Empire whose leaders arrived on specially bred stallions instead.
Confirmands, clergy, a donkey and me stand for a photo by the altar
November 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Food and faith. My interview for the Christmas edition of Yorkshire Life...

@dioceseofyork.bsky.social @yorkminster.bsky.social
The front cover of Yorkshire Life Something in Yorkshire that makes you smile at Christmas time Middlesbrough top of the Championship is a prayer and a hope, but as a long time Brighton fan I know well when it comes to football, it’s the optimism that kills us. A place you love to go for a family feast We’re quite an eclectic family when it comes to food and even more for the big celebrations. Stack in Middlesbrough or Five Guys at Teesside retail park is quite the treat for our teenagers. We had a wonderful birthday meal recently at Chadwicks Inn in Maltby, with its emphasis on local food done well. I’ve been hosting events for community and charity leaders in partnership with the Waterside Brasserie at Middlesbrough College, where catering students do the cooking, which is excellent. When friends come to stay, we love gathering around the dinner table for a good family roast, ideally some lamb with Yorkshire puddings the size of Mowbray We haven’t yet been but have Hansom in Bedale on our wishlist. A festive childhood memory We were always a plastic tree household growing up. That day when you are finally allowed to get the tree down from the loft and cover the house in tinsel was always a highlight. As a family now we have made a tradition to choose a tree from a local Christmas tree farm, although it will be odd this year with our son just having left for university. It sounds more rose tinted than the reality as there’s always some ‘disagreement’ as our daughter advocates for a tree which would dwarf Roseberry Topping and not fit in our garden let alone sitting room! The rest is too large to fit in the text box given but do message for a full version
November 21, 2025 at 4:22 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Blessed 36 hrs with denominational leaders across the North East, as we recommit ourselves to the Ampleforth Covenant our predecessors signed, with an annual retreat to pray for the region(though, as the snow falls, even the bust of Newman looked to be shivering) @dioceseofyork.bsky.social
The text of the covenant, signed Ampleforth in the snow, an old bulding on one side and winding road on the other A sculpture of Newman, in the heavy snow
November 20, 2025 at 8:54 AM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
What a beautiful sight albeit probably not a great day to be driving across the moors the day after a puncture meant I had to change back from winter to summer tyres ❄️
Snow falling heavily with trees in the background
November 19, 2025 at 10:26 AM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Amazing news that @teessideuni.bsky.social has won @thetimes.com University of The Year. A hugely significant and much deserved recognition! My letter of congrats on behalf of @dioceseofyork.bsky.social to the Vice-Chancellor, Staff and Students:

www.tees.ac.uk/sections/new...
Dear Paul, Congratulations on Teesside University winning University of the Year award at the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards last night. This is massive! Even in my first year living in Middlesbrough, I have seen first-hand, and on countless occasions, what the judges described as a ‘clear sense of mission’ and how staff are an ‘unashamedly ambitious for its students’. This is a hugely significant award is much deserved by all who work so hard day in day out to serve students and their households. That over 60% of students at Teesside University are Teessiders, I believe one of the highest nationally, only adds to the importance for our community of such a recognition. It was good to see this further recognised in the University also being shortlisted in the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community category, and being recently rated as Outstanding by Ofsted in all areas of apprenticeship provision. Coming hot on the heels of securing the Turner Prize at MIMA next Autumn, Teesside Uni is rapidly securing ‘place to be’ status. We are delighted as churches to continue to serve and support students and staff at Teesside University and be assured of our continued prayers. Please pass our congratulations and prayers on to staff and students. It was good to catch up briefly at the Cenotaph last Sunday and am glad Warren and Laura are representing the uni at the Bishop’s Boro Big Breakfast in a few weeks, where we will also acknowledge such this great achievement. Barry Hill Bishop of Whitby
November 15, 2025 at 9:53 AM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Please watch & more importantly share this very cheeky, rather urgent request for £15k (ideally in one lump sum!)

I'm only on Bluesky so if anyone can post on any other social platforms that would be hugely appreciated @churchofengland.org @dioceseofyork.bsky.social @churchtimes.bsky.social Thanks🙏
November 8, 2025 at 8:17 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
A delight to spend this afternoon marking the patronal festival of All Saints in Skelton @dioceseofyork.bsky.social, confirming and admitting to holy communion. A lovely Benefice faithfully worshipping and witnessing with all the saints to God’s goodness in Jesus Christ
The front cover of the service sheet
November 2, 2025 at 7:50 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
A joyous morning at Emmanuel, Saltburn @dioceseofyork.bsky.social baptising/confirming 15 daughters and sons of the living God.

Such moving stories of people coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
The baptism and confirmation candidates standing around the font holding candles, joined by me in robes
November 2, 2025 at 7:05 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
So lovely to see all the Archdeaconry of Cleveland Canons of @yorkminster.bsky.social turnout to support Tessa, Dianne and Graham as they were installed as Canons of Your Minster. Alleluia! @dioceseofyork.bsky.social
Five clergy robed and me All the canons of the archdeaconry robed after the service
November 1, 2025 at 8:31 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Sadly not surprising new deprivation data from BBC

Are you a priest & want to do something about it?

We’ve got great jobs available in wonderful communities with fab colleagues. If @churchofengland.org isn’t in Middlesbrough where is it?!

Come on in, the water is lovely…

Contact me for a chat
A screenshot from the BBC website showing Middlesbrough has the highest levels of deprivation across all of the 296 local authorities with 50% of neighbourhoods being 'highly deprived' compared with the national average of 10%
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 AM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Good to spend the morning with Chaplain Dianne Gamble at the Thirsk Auction Mart. Dianne spends most Thursday mornings supporting the Mart and the community which makes it up. Such vital ministry at such a hard time for the farming community.
The inside of the mart ring 1 with the lamb market in full swing
October 30, 2025 at 1:12 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
It’s never a good week for your @officialfpl.bsky.social team when the four players you bench score more points than the rest of the team put together 🤦‍♂️
The football team and their points
October 27, 2025 at 8:47 AM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
One of the highlights of a week of holiday at home: dinner at Middlesbrough College’s Waterside Brasserie. Cooked by catering students, served by front of house students, only in their second month.

Well worth an evening out - six courses, £19, amazing food & service! Every Thursday.
A cheesecake with icecream, caramelised bananas and chocolate crumb
October 24, 2025 at 7:49 AM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Prayers appreciated as daughter and friend launch an after school Alpha course today for their sixth form. So exciting how many people are keen to explore the big questions of life and hope.
A red balloon with the white Alpha question mark logo on it
October 22, 2025 at 8:24 AM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Wonderful to hear the stories of some of those being baptised and confirmed this morning at St Francis of Assisi Church in Ingleby Barwick @dioceseofyork.bsky.social

Also good to meet several people who have just turned up in recent times, no church background, not even sure why but finding life.
A group of 11 candidates standing round the font along with the robed clergy and me
October 19, 2025 at 12:06 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Such an encouraging day facilitating conversations on mission and ministry with children, young people and families for Bridlington deanery @dioceseofyork.bsky.social
Groups of people sit around tables in a church A board showing different coloured ovals detailing all the work with children and young people in the deanery
October 18, 2025 at 4:04 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
One of the great privileges & joys of ministry, praying for & writing letters to those being baptised/confirmed.

After 11 candidates confirmed in Topcliffe on Tuesday, another 13 candidates to be baptised/confirmed this Sunday in Ingleby Barwick @dioceseofyork.bsky.social

God at work. Alleluia!
A pile of cards with one open. It has words from Jeremiah that God knows the plans I have for you written on it. Resting on it is a small silver cross with the story of the Good Shepherd engraved on it
October 16, 2025 at 9:47 AM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
An honour to spend this afternoon visiting the crew and supporters of Whitby RNLI. Such important work, largely undertaken by volunteers & entirely reliant on fundraising

If you haven’t been to the Whitby RNLI museum, well worth a visit too with the original rowing boat @dioceseofyork.bsky.social
The Coxswain showing me the monitoring system onboard At the helm of the Shannon class vessel One of the crew, the mechanic and I on the all weather boat On the top of the boat at the controls
October 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Good to pay a visit today to blue watch at Whitby Fire Station (which includes full-time fighter and @dioceseofyork.bsky.social priest, Fr Paul), to thank them for their hardwork fighting the moors fire, join them for their daily patrol of the gently smouldering site site & pray God’s blessing.
Paul and I in front of the fire appliance Burnt moorland still smouldering
October 13, 2025 at 6:35 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
A joy to worship with the community at St Martin's in Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough this morning, as we prepare to interview for a new Parish Priest in two weeks time. Beautiful, faith-full community. Please pray for this parish, which also has the highest rate of child poverty in the country (85%).
A beautiful altar frontal designed by local school children with eight candles sitting on or behind it A foundation stone laid by William Temple in 1939 'in the faith of Jesus Christ'
October 12, 2025 at 12:09 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
On the 1st anniversary of ordination as bishop, words can't express how grateful we are to God for the call to live on Teesside, & the way the Spirit is at work across the beautiful archdeaconry of Cleveland & @dioceseofyork.bsky.social

Such wonderful lay & ordained colleagues abound #GodIsFaithful
Archbishop Stephen, the family and I standing in front of the doors to York Minster on ordination day
October 10, 2025 at 8:54 AM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
A wonderful, uplifting evening as Sarah Cliff is inducted as the new Vicar of Great Ayton & Newton Under Roseberry. A lovely turn out from the deanery, packed church, bubbles and a buffet that still looked as large after we'd eaten as before! Here with the benefice ministry team. God's faithfulness.
A pile of prosecco corks The ministry team all robed up
October 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Such an encouraging afternoon celebrating God at work as children from the five primary schools across Guisborough united into a joint choir and joined with community leaders in a service of thanksgiving for @alisonphil.bsky.social as she 'retires'.
Alison, Archdeacon Amanda and me standing smiling
October 6, 2025 at 3:56 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Whilst disappointed not to be able to join Councillor Hart in a special service of commissioning this afternoon following his appointment as Mayor of Redcar & Cleveland @redcarclevelandbc.bsky.social, delighted to offer these words for the service booklet reflecting on the nature of public service:
A welcome from Barry Hill, Bishop of Whitby “I was delighted to hear that Councillor Ian Hart has been appointed the next mayor of Redcar and Cleveland. Having grown up in Middlesbrough and served in a range of civic and church roles, including Tower Captain and Church Council member at St Cuthbert's Church in Ormesby, Ian brings a wide range of experiences and breadth of understanding to this important role. Please accept my apologies that a prior engagement means I am unable to be with you in person for this service of thanksgiving and blessing but be assured of my prayers for the new Mayor, Council and its staff, St Cuthbert’s and our wider community across Teesside. The word Mayor has its origins in the Latin adjective "major," meaning "greater”. As the Bible reminds us, the greatness of God is most readily observed in God ‘lifting up the lowly’, giving a voice to the voiceless, serving those in need and in showing those who feel unseen and overlooked that God sees them and is with them. I know this is the spirit in which Mayor Hart has taken on these new responsibilities so may we pray for him as the weight and demands of the role, as well as its opportunities, will undoubtedly at times weigh heavy. God of hope, we pray for our brother Ian especially during his term as Mayor, may he know your favour and fruit, your blessings and protection. As he advocates for others, may he know you holding the weight of this office such that he is able to do that which otherwise is not possible in human strength. We pray for all who serve across Redcar and Cleveland, those elected and appointed, employed and volunteers, together may we cultivate a world closer to how you made it to be, where all are known and needed and the hope of Jesus is tangible. We ask in the name of Christ our Lord, Amen.”
October 5, 2025 at 12:38 PM