CHURCH leaders hope a new vicarage in Gisburn will attract a new reverend to the village.

St Mary’s Church has been without a full-time vicar for almost a year and the diocese has found it increasingly difficult to appoint a new one.

The old vicarage, in Main Street, was built around 1900, but has proved too costly to maintain.

The diocese said the nature of the vicarage makes upgrading work difficult.

Now, a formal application has been submitted to Ribble Valley Borough Council for a new building.

David Meadows, Diocese of Bradford properties officer, said: “This process started about 18 months ago and we will be handing it on to the Blackburn diocese on April 20 next year.

“The existing dioceses are being dissolved and it will be up to Blackburn to decide whether to build the vicarage or not.

“It’s all subject to planning permission but we hope that a new vicarage, which is smaller and easier to maintain, would help to attract a new vicar.”

For the past few months, church services have been taken by retired clergy.

The diocese said it had no plans to sell off the existing vicarage at this stage.

Gisburn resident Giles Bridge said: “The village has been without a vicar for some time now and it would be good for the community for it to be filled as soon as possible.

“The old vicar left in the early part of the year and I know that the church has struggled to fill the position because of the existing vicarage.”

Mum-of-one Natalie Burfitt said: “It’s good that the church is being proactive in trying to attract a new vicar because the church is an important part of village life.

“It’s a big community asset and a new vicarage can only be a positive step forward.”