Posted on: 11th July 2025

Morley Community Church welcomed seven Mayors, three Deputy Mayors, eight consorts, the Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and the local MP to their recent Civic Service on Sunday 6 July.  The occasion was the advent of the forthcoming civic year for the new Mayor of Morley – Cllr Carol Edwards.

The Mayor of Leeds Councillor Dan Cohen was one of the key guests in attendance.

The church was packed to capacity with many visitors joining the civic guests.

A prior parade saw the dignitaries make their way to the chapel of Morley Community Church which is located in the centre of the town’s shopping area.  The Town Crier led the parade.  Along with his bell and barking verbal pronouncements, he ensured everyone could hear as they observed the passing procession as it made its way through the adjoining streets.

This annual Civic Sunday event is a key date in the town council calendar.  Cllr Edwards is the Mayor of Morley Town Council and had requested the Community Church to organise and deliver this service.  During the service she made her Civic Pledge for the forthcoming year.

Guest speaker and officiant was Ian Wilson.  Ian is a dentist by profession but also an accomplished lay preacher.  He preached on the text from Matthew chapter 11 verses 28-29  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.”  His message was richly illustrated by a variety of stories and anecdotes to the delight of all the congregation.

Mayors came from such diverse places as Leeds, Otley, Wakefield, Normanton, Featherstone, Mirfield, Tadcaster and Knaresborough.  The parade was led by the Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Yvonne Stocks DL.  Local Councillors were in attendance as well as representatives of ViNT (Veterans in Need Together) – the Mayor’s designated charity for the year.

Cllr Edwards thanked everyone attending who had come from across the metropolitan area of Leeds and beyond.

Civic Service coordinator Councillor Andy Dalton said that the Civic Service had proved to be an excellent opportunity for the church to connect with Civic Leaders and to express their prayerful support for all their work undertaken on behalf of residents of Morley.

Morley Community Church is a congregational church and is affiliated to the EFCC (Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches).  It is located in Merlyn Rees Avenue, Morley, LS27 9SL.  It has an active programme reaching out to its neighbourhoods with the gospel both in word and deed.

Detail to photos:

1000083248  Town Mayor Cllr Carol Edwards with Morley Macebearer

1000083363 Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Yvonne Stocks DL, Morley Town, Mayor Cllr Carol Edwards and a RAF representative.  Cllr

Edwards previously served in the RAF Military Police

100008346  (left to right) Consort of Mayor of Knaresborough John Westmancoat, Mayor of Knaresborough Cllr Helen Westmancoat, Consort of

Deputy Mayor of Normanton,  Deputy Mayor of Normanton Cllr Carol Appleyard, Mayor of Featherstone Cllr Patrician McIntosh,   Rabbi Anthony

Gilbert consort to Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Dan Cohen Lord Mayor of Leeds, Morley Town Mayor Cllr Carol Edwards, Mayor of Tadcaster Cllr Richard

Sweeting, and Consort of Mayor of Tadcaster Cllr Gillian Butcher, Deputy Mayor of Wakefield Cllr Lynn Masterman, Consort of Deputy Mayor of

Wakefield Cllr Lee Masterman

1000083368  Town Mayor Cllr Carol Edwards with Cllr Dan Cohen Lord Mayor of Leeds, Rabbi Anthony Gilbert consort to Lord Mayor of Leeds