MONSIGNOR Anthony Boylan, parish priest at St Mary and St Michael’s Catholic Church in Settle, has celebrated 50 years as a priest.

To mark his golden jubilee, the church held a concelebrated mass, which was followed by celebrations in the newly renovated church hall.

About 150 people attended, including parishioners, friends and family, who had journeyed from different corners of the country. Guests also included members and ministers from other churches, reflecting the close relationship Father Tony has with all the churches in the area.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 24, 1964, and before coming to Settle in 2006, had been parish priest in a number of parishes in the Leeds Diocese as well as serving the church at national and international level.

Monsignor Boylan is a canon lawyer and served as secretary of the Liturgy Commission of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales in London for 10 years. He also served as a member of the International Commission for English in the Liturgy, which involved commuting regularly between London and Washington DC.