CHURCH members in Sedgefield, Bishop Middleham and Trimdon have received copies of proposals for creation of a single parish team ministry.

The team area would be called the Benefice of Upper Skerne and the parish churches involved would be St Edmund's Sedgefield, St Michael, Bishop Middleham, St Mary Magdalene, Trimdon, St Alban, Trimdon Grange and St Paul, Trimdon.

The proposal allows for two churchwardens, a rector and two vicars. It is proposed the rector would serve for seven years, and the first should be the Reverend Adele Kelham.

Although St Catherine's Church, Fishburn, is not a consecrated, but a licensed building, it cannot be named as a parish church. It will continue to be used in the team ministry.

The proposal will be discussed by parochial church councils. As part of the move, joint services are proposed at the churches involved: On June 27 at St Albans, Trimdon Grange; July 18 at St Mary Magdalene, Trimdon Village; August 29 at St Edmund's, Sedgefield; September 25 at St Michael, Bishop Middleham, and November 21 at St Catherine's, Fishburn.

The locality council will meet on June 16, in St Catherine's Hall; Fishburn, at 7.30pm.