WOOL I never - a special sheep shearing ceremony in a Cawthorne church could be the first of its kind in the world.
Next month a farmer will cut the fleece from a sheep at All Saints Church and present it to the Bishop of Wakefield, Stephen Platten, who will lay it on the altar.
Bishop Platten said he knew of no other examples of the “fleecing service” anywhere.
The idea originated from his visit to Australia, where a regular event sees farmers shearing sheep as part of a large outdoor service.
Down under the service is held at a farm, but Cawthorne’s All Saints will be the first church to host such a ceremony.
The bishop said: “It struck me that Yorkshire has been noted for its wool for a very long time indeed.
“It says something about the rural issues and the countryside and it reminds us of Yorkshire’s wool heritage.”
The ceremony will be held at 11am on Tuesday June 19.
