Bishop’s blessing for celebratory real ale

The brew is being prepared to mark the elevation of Leeds Parish Church to the status of Minster.

Minster Ale will be ready for a service to celebrate the church’s new rank.

The change marks the church’s role in the city.

“The term Minster has been used within the Christian church to indicate a church that has a wider ministry than just its local ministry,” said Bishop John Packer.

“Leeds Parish Church has always had that – the whole idea of service and mission to the whole of Leeds. So Minster describes very well what its role has been and what we are doing is affirming that and its future role as a key part of the culture of the whole of the city.”

The link between beer and the church in England is also an historic one, said Bishop John, who enjoys a pint himself.

“There is a long tradition of the monks in the Middle Ages, who were associated with the Minster churches, brewing beer principally because water was not safe to drink. Beer was the common drink of people.

“The monasteries would brew the beer and it would be shared by the workers and the people on the estate.”