THE Vicar of Christ Church in Skipton is moving on to pastures new in the spring after 10 years in the parish.

When Rev John Peers was asked by the Bishop of Blackburn to consider taking on two village churches north of Poulton le Fylde, near Blackpool, he accepted.

Although he will miss Skipton, and the people he has found so friendly, Mr Peers feels the time has come for a fresh challenge, and for Christ Church to be injected with "new ideas" by a newcomer.

He came to Skipton from the town of Market Harborough, in Leicestershire, and was immediately taken with the frankness of the Yorkshire people, and the way in which they would openly talk about their families and their problems.

During his time at Christ Church, Mr Peers has celebrated many momentous occasions in his personal life, as well as experiencing many changes in the parish.

He said: "Over the years in Skipton I have enjoyed my silver wedding anniversary with my wife, Frances, and seen the marriages of three of our four children.

"I have also celebrated my 25th anniversary in the clergy during my time here, so it's been a very happy period in my life.

"And with the church itself I have been lucky enough to have been part of the Churches Together initiative in Skipton. As part of that, I helped launch the weekly column for the churches in the Craven Herald."

In recent years Mr Peers has also witnessed many physical changes at Christ Church itself, with the complete refurbishment of the organ and the sound system.

"I'm very glad to say that we are also fully equipped to cope with the needs of the disabled now, and fully in-line with regulations," he added.

Mr Peers will be leaving to take up the reins at the villages of Hambleton and Out Rawcliffe by early March.

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