CHURCH officials have delayed replacing a retired rector for seven months because they need to save money.

Rector of Fountains, Canon Tony Keddie, retired from the Fountains Group of Parishes near Ripon last July.

But an advertisement for his successor will not be placed until the end of this month.

The church is delaying advertising for a replacement in a bid to save thousands of pounds as part of a cost-cutting exercise by the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds.

Churchgoers in the Fountains area - which includes Dallowgill, Winksley, Aldfield, Kirkby Malzeard, Mickley, Grewelthorpe and Sawley - have expressed concern that with their curate the Reverend Matthew Evans leaving shortly for a new post in Nidderdale, they could be left for many months without a full-time clergyman.

The Archdeacon of Richmond, the Venerable Ken Good, said an appointment would take about three or four months if it was inter-nal.

An external appointment could take much longer.

The archdeacon said that it costs about £30,000 a year to support a vicar and by delaying appointments they were making a considerable saving.

Currently, there are 122 clergy paid by the diocese and 14 vacancies.