A PARISH covering five church communities has recruited a team rector after more than two years of being unable to fill the post.

The Parish of the Upper Skerne is poised to welcome new incumbent, The Reverend Geoff Short, who has been appointed to lead a new phase of development in the life of the churches in Sedgefield, Bishop Middleham, Fishburn and the Trimdons.

He will be joined by The Reverend Elizabeth Bland who will leave her role as team vicar in the Great Aycliffe Team Ministry to take up the half-time position of team vicar, which has been vacant since August.

Rev Short said: "I felt a strong sense that God was calling me to the ministry there and I was very attracted by the willingness of the people to work together and to be part of their vision for the place.

“I am really looking forward to working in a team environment where they were prepared to take a risk and look outwards to bring the community into the church and for the church to be very much a part of the wider community.”

Until now two readers have taken services and funerals while three retired priests have taken weddings and baptisms across the parish.

The parish has also had three members who have regularly led Sunday worship.

Rev Short comes to the Upper Skerne from the Diocese of Newcastle where he is team vicar of Christ The King.

The 61-year-old added: “My initial plans are to really get to know the team, the people of the parish and the wider community and to enable them in building the Kingdom of God in that place.

"They have done a fantastic job in keeping things going and starting new things during the long vacancy."

Rev Short was widely mentioned in the media three years ago during a period he describes as a difficult time in his life.

He said: “With the support of those close to me, and with the help and strength that comes from my faith, I have managed to put this all behind me.”

Rev Short was ordained in the Diocese of Hereford before moving to the Diocese of Chester. He then spent two years in ministry in the Philippines, returning to the Diocese of Newcastle in 2009.

The Venerable Rick Simpson, Archdeacon of Auckland said: “He will bring valuable experience of the church from both our own North-East region and the wider world.

"I am really confident that he will work well alongside his people, gain the trust of the five congregations and the community, and lead the churches forward in their mission and ministry.”