A NEW Priest in Charge has been appointed at Allendale with Whitfield.

Reverend Martin Naylor has been the Vicar of Batley in West Yorkshire for the previous eight years, before which he was a research scientist specialising in ecology at the University of Oxford.

Martin will minister at St Cuthbert Allendale, Holy Trinity Whitfield, St John Whitfield and St Mark Ninebanks.

Speaking of his new role, Martin said: "I'm very excited to be ministering in the Diocese of Newcastle after spending the last eight years as vicar in Batley, West Yorkshire. We are moving from an urban parish to a rural one situated in such a beautiful part of the world."

"We look forward to meeting everyone and being part of such a wonderful community, celebrating God and his transforming work," he said.

He will also be the new Area Dean of Hexham, which functions as a liaison between the diocesan bishop, the priests, and the parishes of the deanery.

The Venerable Catherine Sourbut Groves, Archdeacon of Lindisfarne said: "We are really delighted to be welcoming Martin and his wife Kathryn to the Deanery of Hexham in the Archdeaconry of Lindisfarne. He will have much to offer to the churches of the area."

"He will serve as vicar in the parishes of Allendale, Whitfield and Ninebanks in some of the most beautiful countryside of our county, where the churches are welcoming and keen to serve their wider communities."

"In addition, he will be serving as Area Dean of the wider area of Hexham Deanery, helping to promote partnership between parishes and between clergy and lay people. We pray we will be a blessing to Martin and Kathryn as we know they will be to us."

St Cuthbert's Haydon Bridge, a parish in the Diocese of Newcastle, said in a tweet: "Delighted to learn of the appointment of @RevMartinNaylor, Incumbent of @Batleyparish, as the next vicar of @AllendaleChurch & Benefice. He will also be our Area Dean of Hexham. We look forward to welcoming him to Tynedale in a few weeks' time. @NclDiocese."