Andy Brooks, aged 64, gave his final service at Park Avenue Methodist Church, in Abington, on Sunday.

The service drew to a close a 22-year career in the ministry that has seen him work in Anglican and Methodist churches in Birmingham and Northampton, eventually taking charge of Park Avenue and becoming superintendent minister for the Methodist churches in the town.

Of his final role within the ministry he said: "It has been very difficult but very rewarding. It has been a job which I have really enjoyed and have had quite considerable success at.

"I am sad to leave and am also almost resentful that I'm not going to be the one that takes Park Avenue church and the churches in Northampton onto the next level."

Rev Brooks started his early career in Birmingham, working in a number of factories including the famous Cadbury factory, before training as a teacher.

He taught English for nine years, until he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, and it was during this time his interest in Christianity began to grow.

Rev Brooks said: "My father and mother were both members of a church choir and I used to go to Sunday School when I was young but going to church stopped being a natural thing for me to do during my teenage years.

"When I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease I started having radiotherapy treatment but the outlook wasn't good and I expected my wife to be a widow within five years.

"I went along to our local church's healing services and I got better, whereas other people I knew that had the same disease didn't.

"My involvement with the church increased until I could no longer ignore the need to make the final commitment of being ordained.

"I felt it was what God wanted me to do. It was like having an itch I couldn't ignore and needed to scratch."

Rev Brooks and his wife Kathy, aged 63, a former teacher, are planning to move to Daventry to enjoy their retirement, which they plan to spend renovating a house and reconnecting with their family, including visiting their son and two grandchildren in Belgium.