by John Burland

AFTER six years as Minister at Otley Methodist Church, Rev Lesley Taylor is moving on to pastures new and taking up a new appointment at Starbeck in Harrogate. It has not been possible to hold our usual Circuit farewell service for her due to Covid 19, but we shall invite Lesley back when we are able to gather to celebrate her ministry amongst us and to thank her and God for it. As well as being Superintendent for most of her time in the Circuit, Lesley has had significant input into the lives of the churches at Otley, Norwood, Timble, Pool and Bramhope for which we are immensely grateful. During her time at Otley Lesley will be remembered amongst others for instigating the annual “Sheep Trail” which has provided entertainment and enjoyment for many youngsters at Advent by trying to find the various sheep hidden in windows of various businesses throughout the town. Lesley has also been involved with the annual Holiday Club for youngsters held each summer.

Lesley is not being immediately replaced, instead the Circuit are developing a “team approach” to ministry at Otley as the role is too big and complex for any one individual to take it on in addition to what they are already doing. The team will consist of Circuit Superintendent Minister Tim Perkins, Deacon Jenny Parnell, Rev Alistair Newton and Student Presbyter Wendy Walker. There are also three local preachers who have volunteered to help with worship and other aspects of mission and ministry. Those preachers are Matt Burland, Viv Pitts and Pauline Tate.

Rev Tim Perkins will hold pastoral charge for the church and will chair church councils, preach and be the first port of call for pastoral concerns. Deacon Jenny will be splitting her time between Otley and Yeadon churches. She will be taking a lead on mission and outreach, preaching, overseeing the Friday shopper’s service and coffee morning, and seeking to enable members to better engage with the organisations that use the premises and the wider community of Otley as a whole.

Rev Alistair who was minister at Otley from 1997 to 2007 has kindly offered to lead worship monthly, to help with pastoral concerns as necessary and to take a lead in exploring the issues with and possibilities for the church building whilst Wendy Walker has a six hour a week link church placement to do as part of her ministerial training course.

Otley Methodist is currently looking at how we can safely reopen for both religious services and users of the premises and details about this will be given to church members and the users of the building as soon as decisions on this has been finalised.