OLD Otley boy Martyn Atkins returns to the town on Sunday to preach at Otley Methodist Church.

As part of its anniversary year, the church has invited Mr Atkins, who spends his time preaching and speaking all over the country, to take a Sunday service.

The old Prince Henry's Grammar School pupil initially went into catering before switching careers to train as a Methodist minister.

He has been a preacher in Leeds and Shipley and in 1991 went to head religious studies and be the chaplain at Edgehill College in Bideford, North Devon.

In 1996 he went to the Methodist training college, Cliff College, in North Derbyshire where he is a postgraduate tutor in evangelism and missionology.

He said: "I preach and speak extensively round Britain and will, all being well, be returning to the US to lecture a little this summer at Methodist colleges in Kentucky and Texas."

Mr Atkins, who is married and has three teenage boys, is due to preach at the church's morning service.

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