Pastures new for pair who grew their parishes

The Rev Patrick Senior, 51, vicar at St Saviour’s in Brownhill, Batley, and his wife Lisa, 49, team curate at Dewsbury Minster, will leave for parishes in Burley and Colne.

The pair were first shown around St Saviour’s, where Lisa initially worked too, by the Bishop of Wakefield before taking up the post and seeing their congregation flourish to around 100 people.

Mr Senior said: “I grew up in a vicarage and I knew I had a calling to work with people.

“We liked the area, we liked the people and we liked the church.

“You are there for people in good times and bad but while we have been here we have developed the congregation. It’s quite a wrench to be saying goodbye to these friends.

“We have done a good job here and it’s time to move on to pastures new,” he added.

The couple decided on the move after they felt daughters Abbi, 16, and Lizzie, 12, were old enough. Mr Senior thanked their congregations and the local schools which they have worked with closely over the years.

Mrs Senior’s final service is today (Sunday) at Dewsbury Minster at 6.30pm and Mr Senior holds his at St Saviour’s on Sunday July 27.