A VICAR who is set to retire from the parish he has served for 17 years will take his last service on Sunday.

The Rev Canon Michael Cowgill, of St Thomas's Church, Sutton-in-Craven, will mark the occasion with a buffet lunch for parishioners after the service.

Mr Cowgill has also been vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Cowling, and Christ Church, Lothersdale - the United Benefice - since 2007.

He told the Craven Herald he was going to miss living in Sutton, where he had made lots of friends and had put down very strong roots.

"It's been a lovely place to live and it's in a lovely area. I've found it a very interesting ministry and have really enjoyed that closeness to people. Leaving is going to be such a wrench.

" I have always tried to give as much help and support as I can, but it's been a two-way thing - I've received such a lot of help and support from a lot of people over the years too. I'm very grateful."

Mr Cowgill and his wife Ann will be going to live in Steeton, where he intends to spend more time investigating his family tree - and continuing his work with five dioceses of the Sudan Episcopal Church. He has visited Sudan four times over the years in connection with this work and has maintained close links with churchmen there.

Mr Cowgill is originally from Earby and was educated at Lincoln Theological College before taking up posts in Barnoldswick, Bradford and Cullingworth. He was made an honorary canon of Bradford Diocese in 2007.

And he will continue to have close links with Sutton - the couple's children Helen and Andrew both live in the village.

Mr Cowgill said: "We have always felt very settled here. We love this area so much and we have met some great people. I feel very fortunate to have spent so much time here."