A PRIEST is bidding farewell to the five South Durham communities he has served for the last decade.

Reverend Michael Gobbett has been at the helm of the Parish of the Upper Skerne since joining as team rector in December 2005 but is set for a move to pastures new.

The 52-year-old is one of two stipendiary clergy within the parish and in his time has led numerous traditional Sunday services, weddings, funerals and baptisms in each of the parish’s churches in Sedgefield, Bishop Middleham, Trimdon Village, Trimdon Grange and Fishburn.

Mr Gobbett said: “It’s been quite a different set up and has required moving around a lot but I’ve liked the variety of the different kinds of communities and working with different communities which was one of the reasons I came.”

The clergyman, who currently lives in Sedgefield, said one of the things he had most enjoyed was working with schools in the area whether conducting assemblies or as a governor.

Mr Gobbett has worked alongside the Reverend Michael Thompson and a group of lay people in the parish, which was formed prior to his arrival in 20015.

“It’s been nice getting to know people over the years and working with really good clergy and lay leaders,” he added. “I’ve tried to bring a better sense of unity across the parish.”

Having started out as a curate at St Aidan’s in Hartlepool, Mr Gobbett then spent 11 years at St Michael and All Angels Church, in Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, before joining the Parish of the Upper Skerne.

In July the Oxford and Durham Universities graduate will move to Whitby - leaving the Diocese of Durham for the first time to join the Parish of Whitby with Ruswarp.

“I think I felt it was time for a fresh challenge,” added Mr Gobbett. “In some ways it will be similar as there are four churches and a team of lay people but it will feel different because it’s more of a built up area.”

The clergyman added he had enjoyed his time as part of the Diocese of Durham.

On his departure the process will begin to find a successor for the parish.

Mr Gobbett will conduct his last service at St Edmund’s Church, in Sedgefield, on Sunday.