The Reverend Brian Levick, retired vicar of Bradley and Cononley, has died.

He had also served in Upper Wharfe-dale and Bentham.

Born in Ely in March 1930, he moved with his family to Long Sutton and developed a lifelong interest in agriculture after spending part of the summer holidays in wartime working on local farms.

After leaving school, he was articled to a solicitor in Wisbech but, at the age of 33, returned to Cambridgeshire to train as a priest.

He served a curacy and moved to Hemel Hempstead, where he became a team vicar and continued to work as a solicitor specialising in agricultural law.

He moved to the Diocese of Bradford in 1977, becoming priest in Firbank, Howgill and Killington, and honorary curate in the neighbouring market town of Sedbergh.

He was one of the first Anglican priests to be “recognised and regarded” as a Methodist minister when he was posted to Bradley and Cononley. He always stressed he had learned a great deal there about the sacramental nature of Methodist sermons.

His deteriorating hearing forced him to retire from full-time ministry in 1990. However, he became a curate in Kettlewell with Conistone and Hubber-holme with Arncliffe and Halton Gill.

And he began another post in 1993 as county ecumenical officer for Lincolnshire and South Humberside, and curate in Sleaford, before retiring again to Bentham in 1999.

Due to mobility problems, he moved to Fosbrooke House in Lytham in 2010, where he played the organ and led services seated in front of the altar.

Mr Levick was a gifted pianist, and formed choirs and youth groups in most of his parishes. His funeral service was held at a packed St John’s Church in Low Bentham.