THE long wait for a new vicar to serve the county town of North Yorkshire is finally over.
The Reverend Howard Smith was instituted as vicar of Northallerton with Kirby Sigston by the Bishop of Whitby, the Right Rev Robert Ladds, on Saturday, in the town's All Saints' Church.
Mr Smith's appointment fills the vacancy created 20 months ago when the previous vicar, Canon Ian Fox, moved to Barlby, near Selby.
For most of the period of vacancy, the parish has been in the care of its curate, the Rev Liz Kitching, supported by other clergy from the locality.
Mr Smith, 56, studied at Leeds University, St Stephen's House, Oxford, and Ridley Hall, Cambridge, before being ordained in 1973.
The institution service involved the bishop; the Archdeacon of Cleveland, the Venerable Paul Ferguson; the rural dean of Mowbray, the Rev Richard Rowling, and representatives of other churches in the parish and locality.
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