A HIGH-RANKING Methodist Minister is taking up a position in Otley.

Rev Dr Martyn Atkins will be serving as part of Otley Methodist Church’s ministry team on a two days a week basis from December.

The move will represent a sort of homecoming for Rev Atkins who was brought up in the town and attended Prince Henry’s Grammar School.

He was supposed to have been taking part in a year-long visit to the US but Covid-19 restrictions put paid to those plans. An Otley Methodist Church spokesperson said: “We are delighted to welcome Martyn back to work with the congregation.”

Rev Atkins’ roles with the Methodist Church have included serving as Principal of Cliff College, General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Britain and as both President and Secretary of the Methodist Conference. Until earlier this year he was Superintendent Minister at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster.