The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu has visited the Deanery of Mowbray on Monday 8 January 2007.

The Deanery of Mowbray is the group of parishes around Northallerton and Thirsk, including the two towns and surrounding villages. The deanery works closely with the Thirsk and Northallerton Circuit of the Methodist Church, and with other Christian churches in the area.

The Archbishop's visit was the 23rd in a programme taking him to each of the twenty-four deaneries making up the Diocese of York (which extends from the Tees to the Humber and from the Yorkshire coast roughly as far west as the A1) during 2006 and the beginning of 2007.

During the morning, Archbishop Sentamu met privately with the clergy of the Mowbray Deanery to learn more about their parishes, before making a series of local visits during the afternoon accompanied by the Rev Richard Rowling, Rural Dean of Mowbray.

The Archbishop's visit commenced at Thirsk Clock, which looks to increase the potential of young people to play a full part in the social and economic life of Thirsk and its surrounding villages.

The Archbishop then visited Shepherd's Purse, the renowned maker of Yorkshire cheeses at the Bell family's Leachfield Grange, Newsham. He then later continued his journey to Stamfrey Farm, West Rounton.

Following a visit to Robert Thompson's Craftsmen Ltd at Kilburn, the Archbishop's evening schedule included an open 'Meet Your Archbishop' meeting for church members and the public at All Saints' Church, Northallerton.

Those gathered, worshipped together before Dr Sentamu spoke to the meeting and then responded to questions from the floor.

Archbishop Sentamu said, "Mowbray Deanery has some superb examples of fresh thinking in rural and county market town communities. At Shepherd's Purse and Stamfrey Farm there are people successfully swimming against the commercial tide by getting back in touch with their roots, while at Thompsons you see a traditional business going from strength to strength in the modern world because it values the skill of its people.

"Surely our 2007 resolution ought to be grow, eat, drink and buy British. Why? Because it is the best.

"Thirsk Clock shows that there are creative ways of responding to social challenges in the countryside too. The churches in Mowbray Deanery - with our good Methodist and other Christian friends - are doing a great job of encouraging people to work together in changing times."