A new Vicar for the Benefice of the Western Dales was licensed and installed in a service at St Andrew's Church, Sedbergh by Bishop James Newsome from the Diocese of Carlisle.

The Reverend Andy Burgess will be based in Sedbergh, and will serve the parishes of comprises the Parishes of Sedbergh and Lune, and Dent with Cowgill.

Andy said: "I look forward to working closely with the churches across the benefice, to getting to know people and hear their stories, and to ministering across the denominations of this area."

The service, on Tuesday 17 January, was well attended, with many local clergy and ministers as well as local civic representatives such as councillors, business owners, and local schools.

Andy is local to the area, having grown up in Kendal, and is glad to be returning to the North West.

He said: "The landscape of the Western Dales echoes the wonderful stories of Christ that we find in the Gospels, who ministered in rural areas, in the hills and small towns of Galilee.

"I'm praying that our churches in this area will be revitalised as we hear again Christ’s wonderful message of God’s love for all people."