A Sutton woman is leaving her post as a minister in the Airedale Methodist Circuit to do mission work on a small island off the southeast coast of Africa.

The Rev Charlotte Common, who is the minister for St Andrew’s Church, Cowling, Steeton Methodist Church and Eastburn Chapel, is leaving in August to spend five months exploring her ministry in Mauritius.

Mrs Common, 62, who has worked at several Methodist churches in the Airedale Circuit, is looking forward to spending time on the multi-cultural island located 540 miles east of Madagascar.

“I’ll be exploring life and looking into setting up a sanctuary there,” said Mrs Common. “I’ll be living among a group of people who are deeply spiritual. Mauritians are dependent on God.

“There are Hindus, Christians and Muslims living together in a peaceful way, they just celebrate the creator in a different way.”

German-born Mrs Common, who has travelled and lived all over the world, will return to the UK in February 2013 but is likely to move to another Methodist circuit.

Members of her current congregations in South Craven and anyone interested in seeing Mrs Common before she leaves for Mauritius is invited to attend a farewell service at Keighley Shared Church, on Church Street, on Monday, July 16, at 7.30pm.

The service will feature performances by the Rock Up and Sing Choir, a solo by Nikki Barrett, and two local Christian bands, Big Sing and Undercover.