Stokesley Methodist Church circuit has raised many thousands of pounds over the last five years to appoint a third full-time minister.

The achievement bucks the downward trend of church life elsewhere - just over a week ago, Christianity in Britain was described as "almost vanquished" by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.

The Stokesley circuit has appointed the Rev Roger Penny in Hutton Rudby, who will also look after chapels at Ingleby and Seamer. His appointment can also be set against a recent strengthening of ecumenical worship in the neighbourhood.

On Sunday, he led his first Hutton Rudby covenant service, in which the congregation confirmed their commitment to the church. Later, he and his family joined an ecumenical family party and tea in the chapel schoolroom.

They were welcomed by other local church leaders - Canon David Lickess, of All Saints' church, Fr Terence Richardson, of St Mary's church, Crathorne, and Stokesley Methodist superintendent the Rev Richard Bradshaw.

In the evening, an inter-denominational service was held. Following the signing of an ecumenical declaration earlier this year, the three main churches in Hutton Rudby and Crathorne now work and worship more closely.

Mrs Kath Watts, a Hutton Rudby chapel steward, explained the background to the new and historic appointment. "The circuit decided to go for a third full-time minister because there are more members across the area than two full-time ministers and one part-time minister can cope with.

"There is also national shortage of ministers, so we are very pleased to have got Roger. We have been saving up for quite a while!

"The Methodist church operates a stationing system in which each minister spends an initial five-year period at a church. He or she can be invited to stay for another three years," she said.

Her husband, Pete, is the Stokesley circuit treasurer. He explained that sizeable sums of money had been saved: "The money has mainly been raised through contributions from churches within the circuit. The circuit was responsible for buying the manse at Levendale and paying the minister's stipend. We also got some grants from the central Methodist church.

"The ongoing upkeep of the manse and the expenses of employing the minister must be met by the circuit."

Speaking about the village's new minister, he said: "Roger seems very keen and capable. We are looking forward to having him here and working with him. It will be a learning experience for us all.

"I suppose this appointment is unusual and against the national trend. Sadly, it is more likely that ministers have been dropped in recent years than taken on."

Mr Penny's wife, Jenny, and sons, Alex and Stephen, recently moved into the manse, which was decorated and made welcoming by the congregation beforehand.

The last Methodist minister to have been based in Hutton Rudby was the Rev Ian Parker, during the mid-80s. He spent half of his time as an industrial chaplain in Teesside and Darlington.

After he moved on, Hutton Rudby was served by visiting preachers and ministers from Great Ayton and Stokesley.