FOR the first time in more than 800 years, a North-East church known as "the cathedral of the dale" may not have a vicar of its own.

Following serious financial difficulties in the Durham Diocese, parishioners at Stanhope, in Weardale, County Durham, are being asked to share services with two other vicars.

This means there will be no replacement for Canon Penny Jones, priest in charge at Stanhope, who emigrated with her family to Australia more than a year ago.

The news that she is unlikely to be replaced has been met with dismay by former parishioners.

Families who have worshipped at St Thomas's Church for more than 50 years, say they are angered and feel lost at the move proposed by church leaders.

One leading member of the parochial church council said: "We have raised something like £12,000 every year as our quota towards running the church. We feel terribly let down.

After meeting with church officials at Stanhope, the Archdeacon of Auckland, the Venerable Ian Jagger, said: "Because of the serious financial situation we are facing, it seems inevitable that there will be no replacement for Canon Jones.

"We are asking deaneries to work in bigger units because there are not enough clergy to go around in rural areas and because of the escalating costs of supporting stipends like Stanhope."

If the scheme is accepted by all the parishes, the dale's nine churches will be cared for by the Reverend Philip Greenhalgh, the rural dean and vicar at St John's Chapel, and the Reverend Malcolm Goodhall, vicar of Wolsingham.