A CAMPAIGN is being launched in the region to have a priest declared a saint by the Catholic Church, 400 years after his death.

Father Nicholas Postgate was executed at York Castle in 1679, and hung, drawn and quartered for being a Catholic priest.

His territory extended from Pickering, in North Yorkshire, across the moors to Guisborough, and west to Scarborough.

One of the few remaining relics of his clandestine ministry is at St Joseph's Church, in Pickering - the portable slate altar he used to celebrate mass.

For the past 32 years, an annual rally has been held in his honour, alternately at Egton and Ugthorpe.

This year, the pressure will be stepped up to have the martyr, who has already been designated "Blessed" made a saint.

Father Bill East, parish priest of St Joseph's, said: "I would very much welcome Father Postgate being canonised.

"To us in Pickering, he is already regarded as a saint and we are allowed to celebrate him, but he has still to be recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church world- wide."

Papal knight, Bernard Connelly of Osmotherley, who started the annual rally in Father Postgate's honour in 1974, said: "I am strongly in favour of him being canonised. The dallying has gone on for too long."

He said he was confident of successfully stepping up the pressure on the Catholic authorities attending the service.

Fr Postgate served Catholics on the moors from 1630 to 1679, living in priests' holes in country houses on the moors.

Pope John Paul II beatified him in 1987 after protests led by Mr Connelly that he had been omitted from the 40 martyrs declared saints in 1970.

A casket containing the priest's preserved hand is kept at Ampleforth Abbey.

This year's mass, attended by clergy of all denominations, is being held on Sunday, July 2 at 2.30pm.