A NEW vicar has taken charge at churches in Sutton-in-Craven, Cowling and Lothersdale.

The Rev Helen Collings began her duties at St Thomas's Church in Sutton; Holy Trinity Church, Cowling; and Christ Church, Lothersdale, last month, a year after long-time vicar, the Rev Michael Cowgill, retired.

Mrs Collings said everything was going well and she had been taking services at two of the three churches on Sunday mornings.

"I'm good at being in two places at once, but three places is a bit of a stretch for me," she said.

Mrs Collings, who has been priest in charge at St Catherine's Church in Sandal, near Wakefield, for the past six years, is enjoying her new role.

"This is a great opportunity as there are some lovely communities here," she said. "I'm in a place that has a real heart for people.

"My hope for all three churches is that we can reach out to the community. Whether they come to the church, I want them to feel we're their church and I'm their vicar. My view of the ministry is we're there to serve others."

Mrs Collings, 48, was born and grew in Barnsley and spent ten years as a secondary school teacher at Oxfordshire, where she met her husband, Simon, who is a sustainable transport consultant. The couple have two girls – Hannah, seven, and six-year-old Hayley – who attend Sutton Community Primary School.

Two other churches in the Craven area are also getting a new vicar.

The Rev Ruth Harris, the vicar at St Anne's Parish Church in Wrenthorpe, near Wakefield, has been appointed vicar at Christ Church in Skipton and St Mary's Church in Carleton. She will be officially inducted on December 14.

She will take over from the Rev David Williams, who retired earlier this year.