C3 is made up of members of the cathedral congregation working under the direction of the Parochial Church Council and whose aim is to demonstrate Ripon Cathedral’s commitment in building God’s Kingdom through prayer and deed.
We provide practical help with fund raising, publicity and awareness raising. The Cathedral has hosted special services, exhibitions and events in aid of our partners. Â We regularly collect food and clothing to donate. We have worked with our partners in local schools, in community events, in arranging Diocesan training. We have welcomed our partners and the people they serve into our community, and we have gone out to work in their centres. Â
Most importantly, we hold our partners in regular prayer.
Forthcoming Events
Our Partners
Ripon has a long history as a place of sanctuary, and our goal is to help continue that. In 937, King Athelstan created a ring of sanctuary around Ripon by placing eight crosses on the roads approaching the city, with the cathedral at the centre. Only one of these now remains but you can still follow the Sanctuary Way Walk around the city.
Ripon City of Sanctuary was established much more recently, in 2015, but we are proud to continue the idea of sanctuary in our city. As part of the national network of City of Sanctuary groups, we help to promote a culture of welcome for asylum-seekers and refugees both within our area and nationally.
Jennyruth Workshops
At Jennyruth Workshops, adults with learning disabilities gain confidence, independence, work and life skills. It is a vibrant and challenging workplace where workers from Ripon and surrounding areas are trained in a wide variety of skills.
Salvation Army Food Bank
The cathedral collects food for the Salvation Army foodbank. Food, warm clothing and a replacement sleeping bag can all be sourced from the Cathedral during opening hours.
Ripon Community Link/Walled Garden
The cathedral works in partnership with Ripon Community Link and Walled Garden, hosting services, stalls and events from the charity. The Walled Garden also provides an excellent pop-up cafe service for events in Ripon Cathedral
Ripon YMCA
We work closely in partnership with Ripon YMCA as a referral service. We’ve also previously hosted exhibitions and talks around the theme of homelessness.
28th February in the Cathedral, hosted by C3.  We had a wonderful turnout and there was such a positive feeling about how we might find ways to work together for more support in the community. This is important not just for the homeless but for all the vulnerable in our City. The evening was fast-moving and packed with fascinating details of policies and strategies within presentations from Liz Hancock of the Harrogate Homeless Project, Lucy Gratton of the Ripon YMCA and Maggie Gibson, Senior Housing Options Officer, from Harrogate Borough Council. The Housing Options Officer spoke about working toward creating communities that can act to prevent people from becoming vulnerable rather than only reacting once they are homeless etc. Community building is what C3’s primary purpose is, so that really touched the members of that group who were present. We all recognise here at the Cathedral that Christian care for the vulnerable is at the heart of what we are about. The Housing Options Officer recognised too that perhaps the church has a role to play in this regard!