The two churches which make up Keighley's shared church last Sunday signed an agreement which is tantamount to a marriage.

Members of the Temple Street Methodist church and St Andrew's parish church, which have been sharing accommodation at St Andrew's church and the neighbouring Methodist Hall for some years, joined by signing the Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP).

The move was first discussed last autumn, and at a special service at the weekend the Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev David Smith, the chairman of the Methodist West Yorkshire district, Rev Peter Whittaker, and the county ecumenical officer, Rev Stephanie Rybak, along with representatives of the two sharing churches, signed the LEP.

One of the main instigators of this union, Rev Michael Hardy, rector of St Andrew's, also retired on Tuesday after four years in Keighley.

Rev Gordon Webb, the Methodist minister, says: "I believe this marks the beginning of an exciting new stage in our journey as pilgrims together on the way to God's kingdom."

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