Ilkley's former archbishop launches his new book

Dr David Hope more recently endeared to the people of Ilkley as Father David, priest-in-charge at St Margaret's Church on Queen's Road returned to the town at the launch of his diary, Better to Travel Hopefully.

The 238-page book charts a year in his life at St Margaret's after his surprise decision to step down from the prestigious and high-profile post to return to ordinary parish life.

Many of the characters featured in the book are real members of the congregation at St Margaret's, and quite a few could be found at the book signing session including verger Adrian Robinson, whose pet ferrets make an appearance of their own in the publication.

As well as charting everyday parish life in Ilkley, the book recalls some of Father David's more high profile engagements over the year, including lunch with the Queen and appearing on Desert Island Discs.

It reveals the ups and downs, joys and irritations of parish life.

To the dismay of parishioners, Father David recently had to cut short his ministry in Ilkley and retire because of ill health, and now lives in the Yorkshire Dales.

He was joined in a book signing session at The Grove Bookshop by co-writer and Ilkley resident, Hugh Little, a former journalist and member of St Margaret's.

The former archbishop said the launch had been very good and he was pleased to see so many people had come along.

Mr Little said: "It's been a lot of fun, but it's really about the church, not about anything else. We've had a lot of support and encouragement."

He first met Father David in the 1970s when he was himself considering ordination and visited St Stephen's House theological college in Oxford, where Dr Hope was then principal. "I went there in search of hope, and I found him," said Mr Little.

Most of the profits from the book will go towards paying off a loan of tens of thousands of pounds which helped build St Margaret's new parish hall.