SWEEPING changes to church life in the Aire Valley have been announced with the loss of historic parishes in Keighley and the appointment of a new vicar for Bingley.

A fresh chapter begins in Keighley with the appointment of the Reverend Mike Cansdale as head of a new single CoE parish formed from St Mark’s at Utley, St Barnabas, Thwaites Brow, All Saints Keighley and St Andrew Keighley.

Team rector Mr Cansdale will be formally inducted on Saturday, September 17, and for the past seven years has been vicar in the neighbouring parishes of Morton and Riddlesden.

“There are lots of great things already happening in Keighley and I am excited to be joining the team as this new united parish comes into being,” he said.

“I have a real heart for the town and look forward to working with all of the churches, to form the vision for what it means to be God’s people in Keighley and to bring the good news of Jesus to our communities.”

Bishop of Leeds, the Right Reverend Nick Baines, said: “The vision behind this is bold and innovative, enabling the churches to have a greater impact on the town.”

The ministry team will consist of three full-time Anglican clergy, two Methodist Ministers and an array of paid staff, self-supporting clergy and volunteers.

The Right Reverend Toby Howarth, Bishop of Bradford, said: “This is an exciting time for Keighley and I am delighted at the appointment of the Reverend Mike Cansdale to lead the team.”

In Bingley, the vacancy left by the Venerable Beverley Mason at All Saints church, Main Street, has now been filled by the Reverend Martyn Weaver, currently curate at Selby Abbey in North Yorkshire, who will take up the role in August.

Ordained in 2012 at York Minster, he read theology at Durham University and trained for the priesthood at Cranmer Hall, at St John’s College, Durham.

Married with a family, he was formerly a civil engineer working in senior management roles within the rail industry. “Bingley is a great place to live and worship, and I am very much looking forward to be joining the All Saints family,” he said.

“There are lots of great things going on in Bingley and I am really excited about getting to know all God’s people in the town, and to prayerfully serve and help to share God’s love in the community. I have enjoyed my time at Selby Abbey, but trust that God is calling me to Bingley.”

All Saint church warden Linda Chapman said the congregation was delighted a new vicar had been found in just six months.

“He’s a really likeable guy who’s keen to come, and we’re very keen to have him,” she said. “It’s wonderful that someone so willing has been found so quickly.”