A former chaplain of the Alhambra Theatre, who was partly responsible for converting comedians Cannon and Ball to Christianity, is retiring from the clergy.

Canon Max Wigley, who is vicar of St John's Church in Yeadon, was the theatre's chaplain for almost three decades.

But he won't be idle in retirement.

A lifelong cricket fan, he was delighted to become chaplain at Yorkshire Cricket Club in April and is soon to start as a supermarket chaplain after complaining that there were no Christmas posters referring to Jesus.

The father-of-four, who has preached in Bradford since 1969, said: "I was always interested in theatre and still do a stand-up comedy routine and after-dinner speeches.

"In many respects, all clergymen are showmen.

"When I began as a vicar in Birkenhead, I knew Cliff Richard, who had just become a Christian, and we set up a house group with other performers such as Gerry Marsden.

"I was appointed chaplain of the Alhambra when I came to Bradford. People in theatre are very influential, and if you can get the message across to people like Cannon and Ball, it has a terrific knock-on effect.

"I have known friends like them for more than 20 years. But the majority of people you see in theatres never become stars, many are struggling and that's very tough."

Mr Wigley used to play cricket in the Bradford league where he had a fast, opening bowl.

So he jumped at the chance to become chaplain at Headingley, where his son David played cricket professionally before moving to Worcestershire this year.

"I know a lot of faces there through David and have been made very welcome. Watching the matches for free is a bonus, but one day I turned up when Yorkshire were 51 for seven against Essex and the crowd shouted to me: "You're too late!"

In December, Mr Wigley wrote to all the major supermarkets, asking why there was nothing in their shops indicating that Christmas "was anything to do with Jesus Christ".

"I got a super letter back from Asda asking me if I would like to be a chaplain at its Owlcotes shop in Pudsey."

Mr Wigley, who is 65 next month, retires from church life on August 31 and will be moving with his wife Judith, a children's adviser in the Wakefield Diocese, to Baildon.

"I have been a priest for 39 years and the best bit is seeing how lives are changed by Christianity," he said.