A man who became the longest-serving Vicar of Kirkburton over a century has died.

The Rev Dennis Barraclough spent 17 years at the church having earlier worked as a curate at Christ Church, Woodhouse in Huddersfield.

Mr Barraclough was born in Darton, Barnsley in `1935, the third of six children of Olive and Frank Barraclough.

He attended Barnsley Holgate Grammar School where he excelled in all subjects, especially mathematics, the sciences and religious education but, school days were not all study, as cricket featured very prominently in those early years, as it did throughout his life.

He was captain of the U14’s, U15’s and the 1st XI, later playing for Barnsley in the Barnsley League where he topped the batting averages during one season.

He did his National Service in the RAF and later became Chaplain to the 59 (Huddersfield) Squadron ATC in 1991.

In 1951 he trained as a teacher at St John’s College, York and after qualifying, went back to Barnsley Grammar School as a physics master and, of course, coached the school cricket teams.

During his teaching career he was licensed as a lay reader in Wakefield Cathedral in 1964. Two years later he responded to God’s call to the ordained ministry and, after studying at Ripon Hall, Oxford, was awarded a Lambeth Diploma degree in Theology conferred by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was ordained deacon in 1968 and one year later ordained a priest.

His curacy was at Christ Church, Woodhouse, until he became vicar of St Peter’s Church, Gildersome, Leeds. During this time he maintained his theological studies being awarded a Fellowship of the College of Preceptors in 1974.

He left Gildersome in 1983 to become vicar of Kirkburton and remained there for 17 years becoming Rural Dean in 1992. In addition to his parochial ministry duties Dennis also served the wider church in many capacities: The Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education and also the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Finance.

He was a surrogate for marriage licences and tutor of readers. He was chairman of Governors of both Kirkburton First School and Highburton First School.

Throughout this time his love of cricket never diminished and he captained the Wakefield Diocesan cricket team, his highest score being 143 not out against Ripon and Leeds Diocese.

He retired in 2000 to live in Fenay Bridge but assisted with services in the parish of Almondbury with Farnley Tyas throughout interregnums.

He married Christine in 1958 and had 32 years of happy marriage and a daughter Veronica. In 1993 Dennis married Vickie and they were together for 21 years.

He leaves four grandchildren, Thomas, Eleanor, Jonathan and Sophie.