THE Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will institute a new Rector for ten churches in Ryedale tonight.

Reverend Chris Wingfield will become the Rector of Bossall, Buttercrambe, Crambe, Flaxton, Foston, Gate Helmsley, Howsham, Sand Hutton, Upper Helmsley and Whitwell- on-the-hill during a service at St Botolph’s Church in Bossall.

Rev Wingfield comes to Ryedale from Bromsgrove, near Worcester.

Originally from Kent, Chris worked in banking and finance before his calling to be a priest. He trained at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, and was ordained in 1995.

He said: “I started my career in international banking and recruitment, but a calling to the ministry led me on a different path into the Church of England.

“I was walking to work in London one morning, having said my morning prayers, when I saw a priest walking past the Bank of England opposite. I said to God ‘Seriously, don’t tell me you want me to be a priest?’ and there in the back of my head came a physical jolt with the word ‘yes’, and the rest is history.”

Rev Wingfield has been married to Thelma for thirty years, and they have two grown-up sons, one of whom works in Hull.

“We also have a Golden Retriever - Alfie - who is will be two years old in May and I daresay my new parishioners will be seeing quite a lot of him in my travels around the churches,“ he added.

“We’re looking forward to exploring this part of Yorkshire and discovering new friends and places.”

When he’s not at church, Chris enjoys walking, golf, entertaining, and reading Scandinavian Noir thrillers.