Church Micro 12753 . . . Ilkley – Christchurch
Note: the given coordinates are for the starting point
The cache, a small black-taped screw-topped tube, is hidden within 100m of this fine old church which dominates the centre of the town.
Step 1: having parked your car - hopefully conveniently nearby - proceed to N 53 55.458 W 1 49.459 outside the eastern door of the church on Riddings Road. Above this on the two sides of a pointed stone structure above the stone arch of the doorway, you will see AB curling stone decorations resembling the peaks of waves.
Step 2: move down to the corner of the church @ N 53 55.465 W 1 49.461 where there is a large blue notice board attached to the foot of the spire. On this there is a telephone number the last figure of which = C
Step 3: now stroll up and along the front of the church to N 53 55.465 W 1 49.470 the location of a wooden bench dedicated to the memory of Fred Buckley who was born and died in the same 1D th month of the year
Step 4: continue to N 53 55.465 W 1 49.483 outside the main front door of the church. On the wall to the right of this is a grey award plaque with E words on it inside a circle
Step 5: move on a few steps to N 53 55.465 W 1 49.489 where up on the wall you will see a light with F sides (glass panels). Note: this is not the light over the main door, but one of three similar ones on the front of the church
Step 6: a few steps more brings you to N 53 55.465 W 1 49.491 where, partially hidden by low shrubs is a foundation stone with 3 dates on it, the last one of which is 190G
Step 7: finally continue to N 53 55.465 W 1 49.497 the location of H steps down to the pavement level (to check - count the number of verticals)
The cache is hidden a short distance away at:
N 53 55.EGH W 1 49.(B+D+3)C(A+F)
Check your coordinates here:
In the early 1800s a few Wesleyan Methodists began meeting in a home. When the group grew they rented a room above a shop before securing a plot of land on Skipton Road, on which to build their first chapel. This opened in 1834. Within 30 years this building was too small and the foundation stone for a larger chapel, on Wells Road, was laid in August 1868.
Meanwhile, the Primitive Methodists had been established in home groups during the 1850’s. Their Leeds Road Chapel was opened in March 1878.
It was influential friends of the denomination throughout the West Riding who judged that Ilkley should have a Congregational Church. Thanks to their generosity a prime site was secured on The Grove.
The foundation stone was laid in May 1868 and the United Reformed Church with its fine stone tower and spire has ever since dominated the south side of The Grove.
Designed by York architect JP Pritchett, it is a fine Gothic Revival church built in the Early English style. The 
spire of the church is an important landmark, visible from many points, especially at the approach to the town from the west. The flowerbeds to the front of the church, and on the wide pavement to the west, are important features of Ilkley's Conservation Area.
Leaders of The Grove Congregational Church resolved to build a Mission Hall for residents in Leeds Road. This was opened in 1902. 70 years later the Mission Hall closed and members were invited to join the congregation at The Grove.
Around the same time members of Leeds Road and Wells Road Methodists united to form Ilkley Methodist Church, at the Wells Road site.
Conversations about the possible union of the Wells Road Methodists and The Grove Congregationalists of Ilkley began in the 1960s. The amalgamations referred to above meant this prospect was put ‘on hold’ for a number of years. However, in 1981 the congregations of Ilkley Methodist Church and The Grove (by now part of the United Reformed Church which came into being in 1972) merged to form Ilkley Christchurch Methodist / United Reformed Church. The church held its first service on the first Sunday in Advent, 1981.
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