The Rev Paul Crabb's Sunday evening service was his last as vicar of St Peter's Church in Earlsheaton and Trinity Church in Batley Carr. It marked the end of more than seven years with the churches and Dewsbury Team Parish.

Mr Crabb, 51, said he was pleased to have built strong community links and overseen work on both churches.

"It's lovely the tower at Trinity is sorted and the clock is back and the St Peter's folks we know are going back to their old building, hopefully by Christmas," he said.

"The church at Trinity is growing and we've had a really good relationship with the Richmond Fellowship and Barnfield.

"In Earlsheaton we've built some very good links with York House and Manorcroft and we've started some new things for the younger families. We had 90 people for one of those which is phenomenal."

He said he was particularly pleased to have worked closely with Earlsheaton Technology College, Eastborough J, I and N and Warwick Road J, I and N School.

He said it would be hard to say goodbye to his colleagues and friends but he looked forward to meeting his new congregations at St Paul's Church in Hanging Heaton and St Thomas' Church in Batley.

"St Paul's is a very well established church with an excellent presence in the community.

"At St Thomas' they've got a group called The Core, a group of people who've committed themselves to the ministry. They're trained and willing and while they've had no vicar they've done a wonderful job," he said.

Mr Crabb will be officially welcomed during a licensing ceremony at St Thomas' on July 22 and a joint service at St Paul's on July 29.