New vicar for St Chad’s

NEW ROLE... the Rev Howard Sutcliffe outside St Chad’s, Uppermill

A Church of England minister who gave up his last parish to be a community worker and Oldham councillor is the new vicar of St Chad’s, Uppermill.

The Rev Howard Sutcliffe will this week complete his move from Werneth to Saddleworth, where he will also be minister at the Lee Street Parish Centre in Uppermill, and at Kiln Green Church, Diggle.

Mr Sutcliffe, a part-time minister, will live at St Chad’s vicarage.

Mr Sutcliffe, who is married to Truda, a physiotherapist for people with learning difficulties, has been taking services since April.

He said: “People have been very welcoming. We haven’t fully moved because there was work to do at the vicarage, but I’ve taken regular Sunday services at St Chad’s.”

Mr Sutcliffe was formerly vicar at St Paul’s, in Ashton Road, Oldham, but shocked his congregation in 1994 when he decided to concentrate on community work in Werneth and Freehold.

He was also an Oldham Labour councillor for eight years from 1991.

However, Mr Sutcliffe (65), who is a father of five and has seven grandchildren, never gave up the ministry and helped out at St Paul’s Church at Scouthead — where he forged links with Saddleworth — before that closed in 2004.

Mr Sutcliffe will not be paid but will live full-time in the vicarage. He said: “This is the way it has got to be in the future. There are fewer resources but not fewer people.”