A PROMINENT North-East clergyman is set to be installed to a senior post in the Church of England.

Canon John Dobson, who until recently was Area Dean of Darlington, will be given the role of Dean of Ripon by the Bishop of Ripon, the Right Reverend James Bell at a service in the city's cathedral on Saturday.

The role has been vacant for more than a year, since the Very Reverend Keith Jukes died days after being diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his stomach.

The Lord Lieutenants of North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, MPs, civic and community leaders as well as representatives of the armed forces will be among a large congregation, which will also include former parishioners and colleagues of Canon Dobson from the Diocese of Durham.

During the service, Canon Dobson, whose wife Nicola is headteacher at Bolton-on-Swale St Mary's C of E Primary School, Scorton, will take oaths on the Ripon Bible, dating from the 13th Century, have his hand anointed with oil and be clothed with a cope, the cloak of office.

Ahead of the service, Canon Dobson said: “Following our move to Ripon, we have received a very warm welcome from people within both the cathedral community and the wider city, not least from the Mayor and the Hornblower.

"After what seems like an eternity of administrative process, preparations and anticipation, I am delighted to be reaching the point of receiving the reins and getting on with job.”