The Acting Bishop of Durham is delighted to announce that the Reverend Graeme Holdsworth has been appointed as Interim Priest in Charge of Upper Weardale, and Rural Ministry Lead for the Diocese of Durham. The licensing will be held on 17th February 2026 at 6:30pm, in St John the Baptist Church (St John’s Chapel) DL13 1QQ
Graeme’s last service in his current role will be held on the 1st February 2026 at 10:30am, in St James Church (Slaithwaite); it will be an All Benefice Holy Communion. There will be no other services in the Benefice on that day, please do come along.
Please pray for Graeme and his family, as they prepare to move and start this new phase of life and ministry.
Graeme says, “The Benefice of Upper Weardale consists of four churches in Stanhope, Eastgate, St John’s Cross, and Cowshill in the deeply rural North Pennines. I prayed for somewhere I could minister that is at least as beautiful as the Upper Colne Valley, and God drew me to Upper Weardale. I am delighted to have been able to fulfil my calling as Interim Vicar of Marsden and Slaithwaite and trust that God will bring you a shepherd after His own heart, as I take up another Interim post of change in challenging times.”
If you want to visit… here is the cycle route!
