A CURATE at St Margaret's Church in Ilkley is to move on with his appointment as Vicar of St Mary's, Willesden, in the Diocese of London.

Fr Christopher Phillips, curate at the Ilkley church in Queen's Road since his ordination three years ago, will take part in his final service on July 31, before he moves to north-west London with his wife, Hannah, and their three children.

His induction at his new church by the Bishop of Willesden will take place on September 7, and some of his current congregation will journey south for the service.

Fr Christopher's successor as curate at Ilkley will be the Rev Paul Wheelhouse, currently assistant curate at St Mary's Church, Burley-in-Wharfedale, who will take up his new post in late summer.

Brought up in East Anglia, Fr Christopher, who describes himself as a "cradle to grave Anglican", studied for the ministry after three years working for the Students' Union advising students and landlords on housing matters.

He later joined homelessness charity Centrepoint, where he worked on a rent deposit scheme for young people and vulnerable families looking to access private rented housing.

Having felt a sense of calling to ordained ministry for many years, he was sponsored by the Bishop of Jarrow. After that, his particular interests in sacramental theology and the history of the 19th century emerged.

Seemingly unfazed by his rapid rise up the ecclesiastical ladder, the friendly, outgoing priest, with a passion for photography, has made a huge impact in his three years in Wharfedale.

He said: "Becoming a vicar at 34 is a big step but it's a challenge I welcome.

"Naturally, it will be a big wrench to leave St Margaret's wonderful parishioners – and the many other warm, friendly people in a part of Yorkshire in which the Phillips family have been very happy – but I just knew I couldn't refuse the Bishop's offer. The whole family are very excited at the prospect of moving to Willesden."