Dewsbury pub is blessed by the church!

The Savile Arms in Thornhill near Dewsbury has received an official blessing from the Canon of Masham after its new Black Sheep brewery branded signs were hung outside the venue.

Part of the 245 year-old building is settled on consecrated ground, which belongs to St Michael and All Angels Church located adjacent to the pub. The pub was blessed 15 years ago when the former signs were hung over the door. Canon Brian Abell, former vicar of Masham, who performed that original ceremony, returned to carry out a traditional blessing at the pub which David and Hilary Oldfield run.

The Savile Arms is the first pub run by David and Hilary. David previously worked in the pub trade but became landlord of the Savile Arms 11 years ago. New signs were created for the pub by it’s main supplier, Black Sheep Brewery and have again been officially blessed and hung over the door of the venue.

David Oldfield said: “Having our signs blessed is a lovely tradition and we are very pleased to have Paul Theakston and Canon Abell visit the pub again. Our most popular beer on draft is Black Sheep Best Bitter, which we serve alongside their other permanent and seasonal cask ales.

“The original building is almost 400 years old and part of it resides on the cemetery which belongs to the church next door. We therefore feel its appropriate to have our new signs properly blessed, as a mark of respect for the holy land.”

David Croft, Area Sales Manager for the Black Sheep Brewery, said: “Black Sheep have been successfully supplying the Savile Arms with Best Bitter for about 20 years now and it’s a pleasure to attend the official blessing of the new signs incorporating our logo.”

Canon Brian Abell said: “I am proud to be able to bless the new signs for this social hub. It’s important to respect the holy ground underneath the building so it’s lovely that David and Hilary feel the same. It has been a long- lived tradition that this building receives a blessing so it’s an honour to keep it alive.”