Churchgoers from across Ilkley and Ben Rhydding were up before first light on Easter Sunday for a service at the Cow and Calf Rocks.

Churches Together in Ilkley, which also organised a Walk of Witness around the town centre on Good Friday, held the sunrise service at the viewpoint at 5.45am on Sunday.

The service was conducted by the Rev Peter Willox, of St John’s Church, Ben Rhydding. The service was attended by around 40 people.

Record numbers join Sunday worship around Chevin Cross

More than 300 people rose early on Easter Sunday to worship at the foot of Otley’s Chevin Cross.

The record-breaking event attracted people from across Wharfedale and Aireborough as well as Leeds and Bradford – with visitors from Uganda and Aylesbury also attending.

The 7am service was led by Wharfedale and Aireborough Methodist Superintendent Minister the Rev Julian Pursehouse, with trumpeter Peter Lambert, from Rawdon, providing musical accompaniment for the hymns.

Mr Pursehouse was joined by the Rev Rick Ormrod, the Methodist Minister from Bramhope, who gave the address, while the lesson from John, Chapter 20, was read by the new senior steward at Otley Methodist Church, Gillian Fawcett.

Otley Methodist Church secretary John Burland was delighted with the turn-out. He said: “A record number of people attended – it is estimated that well over 300 were there as all 200 service sheets that had been printed were given out, and many people were sharing.”

About 50 people returned to Otley following the service at Surprise View to enjoy an Easter breakfast in the Methodist Church’s Wesley Hall.

The 36ft high cross, meanwhile, which has been raised on top of the Chevin for four weeks during each Easter since 1969, will stand for another week before being taken down.

Mr Burland hopes lots of people will once again lend a hand. He said: “The cross comes down on Saturday, May 3, and we would ask for volunteers to be on top of the Chevin at 9.15am that morning to help bring it down.”

Children's delight at fun day

Youngsters at The Kangaroo Club in Ilkley had fun painting and decorating eggs, taking part in a treasure hunt and baking cakes and buns in an Easter Fun Day.

Children at the day nursery, on Chantry Drive, searched for Easter bunnies and Easter eggs, rolled their eggs as far as they could, and baked treats for their mums and dads.

Winners of the best decorated eggs were: Anna King (under-twos), Ellie-Rose O’Brien (under-fours), Theo Eastment (over-fours).

The egg roll results were as follows: 1st place, Emily Wilkinson; 2nd place, Bella Atwell-Skevington; 3rd place, Joseph Heuston.

Good Friday gathering on hill

Good Friday saw quite a gathering on Sugar Hill in the centre of Addingham. Around a large cross people met for a short ecumenical service to commemorate Jesus’s crucifixion, and afterwards to enjoy a hot cross bun. Easter Day itself was celebrated at St Peter’s Church with a vigil and early Eucharist on Saturday evening and by Communion services at 8am and 10am on Sunday. At 10am a packed church of 170 people included members of Hands On Church, who left after the first hymn to get their hands on some Easter Eggs from the Easter egg hunt. They also heard some stories before rejoining the church congregation for communion.