Vicar's departure to leave five-church parish in Sedgefield area with no salaried priest

The Parish of the Upper Skerne, which has churches in Sedgefield, Trimdon Village, Trimdon Grange, Fishburn and Bishop Middleham, has announced The Reverend Michael Thompson will retire on July 31.

It comes almost two years after former team rector, the Reverend Michael Gobbett, left his post. The parish has been unable to fill the vacancy and there is no one as of yet planned to step into the team vicar role.

Reader Michael King said: “I’m reasonably confident that we can keep most of the show on the road but expect there will be a few changes.

“I’m not sure why posts are not being filled but it is a national problem for the Church of England. We’re saddened that there isn’t anybody out there who want to be with us but we’re pragmatic and hoping that someone will come along.”

In the meantime Mr King and reader Bill Armstrong will continue to take services and funerals while three retired priests take weddings and baptisms.

The parish also has three members who regularly lead Sunday worship and will also call on retired priests within the Stockton Deanery to help.

Rev Thompson announced his decision to retire and leave the parish last week, four years after accepting the post and making his home at Trimdon Grange.

The clergyman and his family intend to remain in County Durham where “after a period of rest and reflection” he plans to offer his services in some form to former mining communities.

“It was wonderful to work with children again and help support the parish leaders and different congregations and communities within this wide-ranging and varied parish,” said Rev Thomson. “Within the spectrum of community life in the Trimdons and Fishburn I also found an echo of my working class roots.”

At a service at St Edmund’s Church, Sedgefield, The Reverend Martin King, former Rector of Sedgefield, thanked him for his ministry. He said: “You will be missed. You are well loved by a lot of people.”