Inner-city priest set for pastures new

From the archive, first published Friday 8th Dec 2006.

A church leader is leaving behind the inner-city parish which has been his home for more than a decade to work in the tranquility of the Yorkshire Dales.

The Reverend George Moffatt, who for the past 13 years has played a key role in the regeneration of Manningham as vicar of St Paul's Church, will become rector of Bolton Abbey in the spring.

"I'm very pleased to be appointed to Bolton Abbey. I am looking forward to it very, very much," he said.

"It's obviously going to be a huge contrast to life in the city, but then life in the countryside has considerable challenges too.

"I have been 13 years working in Manningham and saints and sinners are no different wherever you go - it's only the stage that is now different.

"It will be quite a contrast and in some respect my ministries have been about contrasts as my previous posting was in the mining town of South Elmsall.

"It is time to hand over the responsibilities of this ministry to other people or another person.

"Manningham offers tremendous opportunities, and Bradford itself has been seriously changed and is beginning to go boldly forward. It is time for some fresh blood to engage with the changing demographic within the city."

Mr Moffatt said he was proud of his time in Manningham and the work he had done with groups including the Manningham Project and the Manningham Mills Community Association."

But he said relations between different faiths in the community had not advanced as far as he would have liked during his tenure.

"There has to be more engagement between mosque and church," he said. "There are still challenges to overcome."

Mr Moffatt was invited to apply for the Bolton Abbey position by the Bishop of Bradford, the Right Rev David James, when the current rector John Ward announced his retirement.

"I plan to make the best of the stunning countryside around the Abbey and will be walking every day," he said.

A farewell reception will take place at St Paul's Church on Wednesday, January 31, from 5pm to 7pm. Mr Moffatt's last service at St Paul's will take place on Sunday, February 4.

Since 2000 Mr Moffatt has been one of 36 chaplains appointed throughout the UK to preach to the Queen once a year.

Since his appointment, he has led several services in the Queen's Chapel in St James's Palace.

His position is part of the Church of England's service to the Crown. Mr Moffatt is Bradford's sole representative and will remain in the post until he retires at 70.

e-mail: dan.webber@bradford.newsquest.co.uk