ONE of Huddersfield’s leading citizens said goodbye to the town yesterday.

Hundreds of worshippers packed into Huddersfield Parish Church as Canon Catherine Ogle held her last service.

The Vicar of Huddersfield is leaving the town after nine years to become the new Dean of Birmingham.

Speaking moments after the service ended, Canon Ogle said: “We’ve all been through such a lot together as a church. There have been wonderful times and difficult times and it all came out in the service.

“There was a lot of joy but a few tears as well.”

Canon Ogle’s sermon yesterday focussed on the future rather than the past.

“I talked about the church being made up of people who look forward with hope,” she said.

Canon Ogle was joined at the Byram Street church yesterday by visiting clergy, including retired Rev David Earl. The Edgerton man served as assistant curate at Huddersfield Parish Church from 1983 to 1999.

He paid tribute to the work Canon Ogle had done in the town since her arrival in 2001.

Rev Earl said: “I think Catherine’s been wonderful, she’s been an outstanding vicar, not just for the church but for the town.

“It was a celebration service and very touching because she’s made a lot of bonds here and people are a little upset with a sense of loss.

“At the same time we wish her God speed as she goes to Birmingham.”

Canon Ogle will become one of only three women who have risen to the position of dean within the Church of England when she takes on her new role in Birmingham.

She said: “It will be a big challenge in Birmingham.”

But Canon Ogle is used to breaking through the glass ceiling. She was the first ever female Vicar of Huddersfield when she was appointed in 2001.

Since then she has taken a leading role in the life of the town, particularly working with other religions through the Interfaith Network.

Canon Ogle said: “I think the highlight of my time in Huddersfield has been the way that the churches have worked with other faith communities.

“We don’t want our church to have walls, we want the church to be part of everything.”

Canon Ogle’s husband Robin will commute from Birmingham to his job with Kirklees Council, while their son Thomas will begin studying philosophy at the University of Leeds in September.