THE Vicar of Radcliffe has bid farewell to the town and set off to take up a new post . . . in Prestwich!.

The Rev Bryan Hackett was treated to a goodbye buffet by members of Radcliffe Parish Church on Sunday (June 8) after spending six years in the post.

"Their gifts were magnificent and very generous," said Mr Hackett (36), who is originally from Hampstead.

He will be moving all of three miles to Prestwich Parish Church, where he will be licensed by the Bishop of Bolton, the Rt Rev David Gillett in a ceremony on July 7.

"I will miss the commitment and loyalty of the people of Radcliffe. They were very reliable and worked hard to help the ministry grow," he said. "In Prestwich I aim to concentrate on working on the liturgy to increase and improve worship."

Mr Hackett read history at Oxford University and had planned a career in teaching or lecturing. But when he was 19 he went on a retreat with friends from his college chapel and realised that a future in the Church beckoned. After graduating he spent two years at the Camphill Community in Gloucestershire as a voluntary worker for those with special needs. Theological College at Cambridge followed and he was ordained in 1993.

His first post was as a curate for the Willington Team Parish in Wallsend, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He spent four years there before coming to Radcliffe in July 1997.

Until a replacement is found in Radcliffe for Mr Hackett, services will be taken by the Reader Emeritus, visiting clergy and members of the Radcliffe team ministry.