THE vicar appointed as the Church of England’s second female bishop will give her final service in Riding Mill on Sunday.

Canon Alison White is preparing to leave St James’s Church and the community after four and a half years as priest-in-charge, following an announcement in March that she is to become Bishop of Hull.

The news thrust Canon White and her husband, the Rt Rev. Frank White who is Assistant Bishop of Newcastle, into the national spotlight after they became the world’s only husband and wife team of bishops.

The couple will move their family home to Hull, with Bishop Frank set to commute to the North-East, where he will continue as the current Acting Bishop of Newcastle.

But residents in Riding Mill are not prepared to wave the couple off from the vicarage quietly.

Pupils at the village’s Broomhaugh Church of England First School, where Canon White has become a familiar face, served up afternoon tea in an event called “More Tea Vicar?” yesterday.

Canon White was guest of honour at the thank you event, which was a celebration of the links she has formed with the school.

And tomorrow, Riding Mill Parish Hall will be hosting ‘a bit of a do’ during which the whole community will be given the chance to say farewell to the couple.

A bespoke silver pectoral cross, purchased by village subscription, will be presented to Canon White as a parting gift before residents raise a toast to her future.

“We’re so proud of her,” said church warden Sandy Gardner.

“She really has made a big impact in Riding Mill, not just among the church congregation, but in the whole village.”

Canon White will be ordained and consecrated as a bishop at York Minster on July 3.