AS SNOW began to collect in the corners of stained glass windows and silently blanket over the peaceful graveyards of two Darlington churches, Christmas had come again for two congregations.

The wintry sight outside set the perfect scene to reignite festive feelings for parishioners welcoming a new era for both the Holy Trinity Church and St Cuthbert’s Church in the town centre.

Dozens braved January flurries to witness the licensing of the Reverend Matthew Firth as Priest-in-Charge of the two impressive places of worship.

Both churches have been without a vicar for some time with St Cuthbert’s – which looms over the River Skerne and Darlington’s Market Square – having last month experienced its third successive Christmas without one.

However, the Right Reverend Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham, and the Archdeacon of Durham, the Venerable Ian Jagger, have formally installed Mr Firth into his new Darlington seat.

The licensing on Sunday was split into two parts, beginning with a gathering at Holy Trinity, off Woodland Road, before proceeding to the second-half of the event, at St Cuthbert’s.

The afternoon services had been due to feature an interlude inviting parishioners to walk with the Bishop of Durham and Mr Firth into the town centre, however the procession was called off in wake of the heavy snowfall.

But despite the bitter weather, Mr Firth was welcomed warmly by both congregations who will now have worship led by the vicar who grew up in west Yorkshire and went to Cambridge University to study the unlikeliest of subjects.

During his three years at Cambridge reading astrophysics, Mr Firth realised he was meant to become a vicar and his faith grew in the years following his graduation and further study at Oxford.

Now in his mid-thirties, Mr Firth has made the move to the North-East from Carlisle, in the North-West, where he was the chaplain of the city’s University of Cumbria campuses and set up a church aimed specifically at young people finding faith.

Speaking in front of his Holy Trinity congregation for the first time after taking his oath of allegiance in front of the Bishop, Mr Firth was applauded and said: “I want to echo what the Bishop has said about the importance of prayer.

“We can pray for the parish and the work we will be doing here and in the town centre.

“I look forward to meeting you all and I want to thank you for the welcome and all of the gifts that have been arriving at the vicarage.

"Thank you.”