The Rev Michael Chapman has become the new President of Keighley Churches Together.

Mr Chapman, 67, who is retired, worked as a Methodist Minister at various churches in the Haworth area for five years. He spent 15 years in Leeds and has also worked in Manchester and south-west England.

"Keighley Churches Together is an ecumenical organisation which includes the Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Baptist and United Reformed Church," he says. "It has its roots in the Fellowship of Christian Cong-regations which was formed in the town in January, 1946.

"I retired from looking after a church about 18 months ago. Now, instead of working for one church, I'm working for many churches. Keighley Churches Together helps us understand each other and serve the community. We are involved with Better Reading Schemes in most of Keighley's schools and in Youth Mentoring Schemes which provide help and support for school-leavers looking for jobs or college courses.

"Churches Together are having a celebration event at St Andrew's shared church on Saturday, May 22. We hope to organise something even bigger for the new millennium."

Mr Chapman's wife Sheila died two years and he has two married daughters Mary and Dawn who live in Queensbury and Leeds. He has three grandchildren.

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