Barry Hill
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bishopbarry.bsky.social
Barry Hill
@bishopbarry.bsky.social
530 followers 180 following 410 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
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
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Fascinating from today’s @thetimes.com on a new book by scientists claiming a Creator was responsible for the Big Bang (and I’d add the intentional creation and encouragement of science & scientists too).

Far more interesting though than the 'what' is the why' and even the 'who'…
An article in the Sunday Times entitled 'We found God' with an image of the big bang
October 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Superb. Challenging. Inspiring. Sadly still worryingly relevant. Well worth a watch if you can...
The front cover of the programme for Aaron Sorkin's new version of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird at Leeds Play House
October 4, 2025 at 11:37 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Much joy in Baldersby, Dalton and Topcliffe @dioceseofyork.bsky.social as Dawn Ward is licensed there this evening. Fab deanery turnout and a lovely God-centred, encouraging feel in the air.
A large group of robed clergy and lay ministers standing by the font
October 1, 2025 at 9:39 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Apologies for the photo (best I had) but quite the afternoon as church, civic & community leaders from across the region gathered to mark Fr Glyn's retirement, 30yrs to the day since he was asked to be Priest at All Saints, Middlesbrough: a leader in regeneration of the town, pastoral care & witness
Fr Glyn in black robes with red canons piping holding a knife pointing at a cake
September 28, 2025 at 6:34 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
A joy to spend this morning with @frjohnswinhoe.bsky.social & the community in North Thornaby and to reflect, as part of their 'purpose of the Church' series, on the story of Lazarus and the 'rich man'. Good too to lead the community in praying for newly licensed Reader, David.
Fr John, Reader David and me all robed in front of the altar
September 28, 2025 at 12:18 PM
bishopbarry.bsky.social
Alleluia! What a wonderful morning as 77 people were admitted, authorised or licensed to new lay ministry's across @dioceseofyork.bsky.social (plus 3 Reader's transferring) @yorkminster.bsky.social

God calls. The Church prays. People say yes. The faithfulness and provision of God writ large.
The front cover of the lay ministry service sheet
September 27, 2025 at 3:34 PM