HAWORTH Parish Church's rector has announced he will be leaving the parish to take up a new post in Eldwick.

The Rev Peter Mayo-Smith has been working in the village for seven years.

His last service in Haworth will be on January 8 next year, after which he will be moving to become minister at Eldwick Church.

"I have enjoyed myself and it's been wonderful to meet so many different people," he said.

"I want to be able to see Christmas through here because, of course, Christmas is such an important time in Haworth.

"I'll be very sorry to leave Haworth and Cross Roads, and I will miss it. But I am also excited to be going to Eldwick. It's a new challenge, which I'm looking forward to.

"I have good friends in the congregation at Eldwick, whom I've known for a long time, so it's not like I'm going somewhere totally new."

Mr Mayo-Smith has previously worked at St John's Church in Greengates, as well as at Holy Trinity in Idle and Holy Trinity in Queensbury.

During his time serving the community in Haworth, the village's parish church has undergone a massive renovation and repair scheme, costing about £750,000.

This has involved full refurbishments to both sides of the roof, tower renovations, a new heating system and improvements to the interior of the building, which feature provision of a toilet, a fully-equipped catering area and a new entrance to allow for disabled access.

The church has remained open to visitors while the refurbishment has been under way, though services have been temporarily shifted to West Lane Methodist Chapel.

Mr Mayo-Smith said workers are finishing off paintwork, plumbing and electrics, and are due to complete the mammoth task by the end of this week.

The Area Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev Toby Howarth, is due to visit Haworth on November 21 to re-dedicate the church and give thanks for the improvements made.

"The whole parish will be invited to this and I hope to have as many people as possible involved with the restoration attending," he added.

"I'm thrilled and delighted to see the renovation almost complete."

He said ministering to people in Haworth had been a very different experience to where he had worked before, largely thanks to the village's distinctive character and status as a major tourist attraction.

He added it is too early to say who will be replacing him, as this depends on the outcome of a process that will involve the bishop, archdeacon and the church council.