Rector, the Rev Dennis Handley will be leaving the parish of Almondbury with Farnley Tyas next month after more than seven years.
Ordained in the Ripon diocese he served two curacies in Leeds, at Headingley and Rothwell.
He came to the Wakefield diocese in 1992, to Christ Church Liversedge – where he hit the headlines for jumping on the tow bar of a getaway truck when thieves were stealing the church flagstones.
After five years he moved to Ripponden, Rishworth, Barkisland and West Scammonden for nine years.
The father of three grown-up daughters and wife Catherine moved to Almondbury with Farnley Tyas in 2006.
He began holding regular parish walks when they arrived in Almondbury and says he thought people found it a good way to get to know each other and make friends in a relaxed environment.
Dennis is a former engineer and classic car enthusiast, who lovingly restored an MG Midget.
He said: “I am very sad to be leaving Almondbury as it has been a place which we feel is home, and where the people have been so kind and generous to us.
“We’ve made many friends and will be sad to leave them.”
Catherine said: “Moving to Northumberland will be a dream come true for us.
“We have enjoyed many happy family holidays there over the years, so it is a logical development.”
She said her husband would continue his role as a special adviser on rural affairs.
While in West Yorkshire he had been the Bishop of Wakefield’s adviser.
