Father Michael, who is also Rural Dean of Brighouse and Elland, has been in Brighouse for the past eight years.

Members of the congregations in the team parish, St Martin's, Brighouse, St Chad's, Hove Edge and St John's at Clifton, were told the news earlier this month.

His new appointment as team rector with the Castleford team parish gives him responsibility for four churches including All Saints' in Castleford.

During his time in Brighouse Father Michael has seen the congregation grow and has overseen the re-ordering of St Martin's Church which has involved major changes and improvements to the building in Church Lane.

He said the former vicar in Castleford had died in January and a person with experience of working within a team parish was needed to take on the role.

"It will be a very different environment to the one in Brighouse," he said. "Castleford was a mining town but pits have closed and there has been some regeneration taking place. I am sorry to be leaving Brighouse but I have enjoyed my time here and feel a lot has been done."

The team in Brighouse, including the Rev Stuart Lord at Clifton, and curates the Rev Cynthia Fox and the Rev Romita Shrisunder will continue the team parish work when Father Michael leaves. He expects his final service to be in October.

Originally from South Emsall, Father Michael trained as a teacher and taught religious studies at a senior school in Bourne, Lincolnshire. He taught for five years before joining the ministry and he completed his training at Lincoln Theological College.

He was ordained in Blackburn and his first appointment as curate was in Blackpool. He moved to Preston as team vicar on a large housing estate and was chaplain of Preston prison. Before moving to Brighouse he was vicar of St Mary's Church, Blackpool, for seven years and for four years he was Rural Dean.