A WHARFEDALE clergyman has celebrated his 105th birthday – and a ministry that has spanned eight decades.

The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Rev Nick Baines, led a special service in Bramhope to mark the landmark day for Canon John Clayton, who has been an ordained minister for 80 years.

The double celebration took place at St Giles Church on July 3, when Bishop Nick praised Canon Clayton – a former vicar of Otley – for his "extraordinarily long and faithful ministry".

He added: "I imagine this will be the one and only time I conduct such a service.

"The dates are all remarkable – Canon Clayton was born in Leeds in 1911, so he was five when the Battle of the Somme took place.

"He was ordained before the Beatles were born, and he had retired before I left school."

Vicar of St Giles, the Rev Janice Smith, said: “What an inspiration Canon Clayton is.

"He is a hugely valued member of St Giles and, until the age of 100, was still actively involved in church services, preaching and leading Holy Communion.

“The church was full for his service, and people came from far and wide, including Otley, from where he retired in 1976.

"One lady said he’d married her and her husband there 55 years ago!"

Canon Clayton says being involved in the installation of the very first Chevin Cross at Otley, in 1968, was one of his proudest achievements.

The 32ft-high wooden cross was raised – thanks to a collective effort by local churches – at Easter that year, and the tradition has continued ever since.

The Canon, who was ordained at Wakefield Cathedral in 1935, said: "I was part of a group who helped get the project off the ground and I was privileged to preach the sermon on that first Easter.

"Some people didn’t think it would work, but more than 200 came the first time we hauled it up and, nearly 50 years later, they’re still going today, offering a sign of hope over the town each year."

Reflecting on his long ministry, he added: "I have loved working for the Church, and I’ve never been bored – people are very interesting, occasionally a little naughty and, more often than not, very lovable."

A party was held after the church service, when photos going back to Canon Clayton's childhood were on display, and he insisted on blowing out the candles on the cake himself.