FATHER Francis Smith is the new parish priest for the parishes of St Mary and St Michael in Settle and St Boniface in Bentham.
Originally from Ireland, he has lived in Yorkshire for the past 33 years and as well as working in a number of parishes in Wakefield, Wetherby and Bradford, he spent three years as director of the diocesan youth retreat house, Myddelton Grange in Ilkley.
Father Frank says he is very appreciative of the welcome he has had and is looking forward to working closely with both his parishioners and the whole community.
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