THE Rev Sue Wilkins broke new ground when she joined the Methodist church in Northallerton.
She was its first woman minister at the time, and has continued with that pioneering spirit for the last eight years.
She leaves in August for Brampton in Cumbria, to take charge of the Methodist circuit there.
She is currently the minister for Romanby, Brompton, Thornton-le-Beans, Maunby, Osmotherly and Borrowby.
She said: "The Church wanted me to go and have a look at Brampton and they seemed keen to have me. But I will be sorry to leave.
"I was the first woman minister in the Methodist Church in this region and it has worked out well."
She started the Northallerton Child Contact Centre, was a founder member of the Chernobyl Children group and was chaplain at Friarage Hospital's maternity and special baby unit.
Mrs Wilkins and her husband, John, who works with educationally-challenged adults, enjoy walking and will make the most of the nearby Lake District when they move.
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