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Thursday, 2 October, 2025
On Sunday 21st September Ripon City band invited guests to gather in celebration of the official opening of a new home base - their own band room in the village of Melmerby. Previously a ethodist chapel, now with a new lease of life, and music ahead of it.
The band room represented the culmination of a mammoth fundraising and community effort. During the Covid pandemic Ripon City Band made the decision not to return to their tiny practice room in Ripon, a space they had long outgrown anyway. But….. finding a new home would be a challenge. After many months as nomads, renting out village halls etc, the Old Chapel in Melmerby came up for sale.
In just four days the band members had raised enough money to buy the building, but that was the just start of the journey. It needed a huge amount of work - all of which was taken on by the band members, and support from the community of local villages Melmerby and Wath. From reflooring, replastering, plumbing, excavating to building an entirely new upstairs floor, band members truly know their sweat and tears (but mercifully little blood) is in the fabric of the Melmerby Old Chapel.
The chapel was first built in 1925, so not only has it a new (noisier) set of tenants, but on Sunday the building itself was a century old.
Despite weather warnings and torrential rain on Saturday, Sunday saw a bright, crisp day as the band gathered to welcome visitors to their new home. The bands President Mr Keith Anderson cut the ceremonial ribbon on the main doors of the chapel, and paid homage to two histories: that of a chapel which served its community for almost a hundred years, and Ripon City Band. A brass band with roots stretching back to 1860, which in the past three decades has climbed from third division to championship. Once inside guests sat in the pews of the Old Chapel to sing Make Me a Channel of Your Peace, accompanied by the band - one of the last hymns performed in the chapel before it closed its doors in June 2019
The public event was also a chance to showcase the Ripon City Training Band - which runs alongside the main band. An opportunity for brass players of all ages to experience being part of a brass band. The training band boasts players from 7 year old Archie on Cornet, to 80 year old Bob on Flugelhorn, and is a wonderful chance to learn, experience performing, and the community of band life.
Now the band are raising funds to complete work on the new floor to allow them to teach more pupils, including absolute beginners of all ages. If you would like to support us why not come along to our next event where you can see and hear both bands in action. Sunday 23rd November - ‘A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’ in Holy Trinity Church, Ripon, 3pm along with other Ripon organisations. Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page as tickets will be on sale very soon.