A Jesuit scholar from Ilkley is now using his roots to inspire prayer and contemplation around the world, with a web site for the Jesuit Community he developed with a colleague over three years ago.

Peter Scally, 34, who is due to be ordained as a priest this year, took several pictures of Ilkley Moor and other areas of the town whilst visiting family over the New Year period. These pictures are now posted on the international web site, which Mr Scally first developed with Father Alan McGuckian whilst he was resident in Dublin with Jesuit community nearly three years ago.

" The aim of the picture is twofold: to express visually the idea of 'Sacred Space', the presence of God in the world around us, and to help visitors to the site to become aware of that, so that they are drawn naturally into prayer," said Peter, now based at the Jesuit Community in Brixton Hill, London.

Peter, originally from Ben Rhydding, but whose parents now live in Denton, Ilkley, attended the Sacred Heart (then St Mary's) Primary School, Ilkley Middle School, Ilkley Grammar School and Sheffield University, before joining the Jesuits in 1993.

The pictures on the site include a view from the top of Ilkley Moor, The Old Bridge, White Wells and the Manor House. The use of inspiring scenes of beauty and tranquillity encourages prayer, believes Mr Scally.

"Many of our users say they find this a very effective and helpful way of beginning, especially if they are in the middle of a busy office where the presence of God is less obvious, and certainly not the first thing on your mind!"

Whilst on his most recent stay in Ilkley, Peter commented: "I'd forgotten how beautiful the dales are."

"I was up on the moors in mid-afternoon with the sun low in the sky, and I thought, 'This is so beautiful. We must share this on Sacred Space'. The surprising thing was that I had not thought of this before, because the moor has always done that for me, always helped me to find peace, and contemplate, and think about what's really important in life - in other words drawn me to prayer."

Peter used to walk on Ilkley Moor during lunch breaks whilst at Ilkley Grammar School.

"God is everywhere, and it can be as uplifting walking on the moors, as praying in a church. People want to spend more time in prayer and contemplation, but very often don't have the time; the SacredSpace web site is an initiative to make this easier. All successful web sites are so because they meet a need in today's busy and hectic life, especially for people who use computers and work in offices."

Pictures posted daily on the web site do have a wide ranging appeal though. Peter also took some cityscape pictures of Sheffield a few days later, saying:

"The pictures on the site are broad, we use any scene where we can recognise beauty and God's presence."

The web site has been a resounding success with many world-wide users and is now available in seven languages. It attracts regular visitors from places as far apart as Alaska, the Philippines, South Africa, India and the South Pole, with regular users volunteering their services to translate the site. With over six thousand visitors a day, its three-millionth hit is due next week.

Details of the photos can be found at (www.jesuit.ie/uk/ilkley).