'A GREAT ambassador for women's ministry' — that was how the team rector for the Okehampton and Northmoor Churches described the Rev Lynne Burgon, who has taken part in her final service in the area.

Mrs Burgon, who has been curate for the Northmoor Churches for the past three-and-a-half years, will shortly leave to take up her new position as rector of the Hukeley Mission Community, centred around Bampton near Tiverton.

Lynne said: 'I am swapping one moor for another — from Dartmoor to Exmoor. I will miss Okehampton greatly as a place, but I will miss the people most of all. The last few days have been very sad, and incredibly emotional.

'I've got the future to look forward to, but people have been so sad to hear I'm leaving that it will be very difficult to go. There are some beautiful people in Okehampton and I will be so sad to leave them.'

Lynne's final service in her current post was the Christians Together in Okehampton joint service at the New Life Church on Sunday, marking the end of a week long celebration of Christian unity.

Mrs Burgon was the first woman minister for the Northmoor team of churches, and team rector the Rev Stephen Cook said: 'I think there were a few raised eyebrows when the parishes were first told they were going to have a female curate, but Lynne has been a great ambassador for women's ministry and has won over any doubters there may have been.

'Lynne has a great way of getting alongside others and I know a lot of people are going to miss her a great deal. 

'She always says that she cannot get away from jokes about the Vicar of Dibley and so we put together a little sketch along those lines for her farewell party on Friday.'

Of the sketch, Lynne said: 'I had a wonderful evening on Friday, and the sketch was very funny. It was written by the Rev Cook, and I think he has a potential career path as a comedy writer.

Lynne will be licensed as rector of the Hukeley Parishes at a service on Sunday February 6, and congregation members from Okehampton and the surrounding villages will attend the event.