A preacher at Prudhoe Methodist Church has stepped down from regular ministry.
Ian Warburton, who began preaching in 1997 and has served the Methodist Churches of the Tyne Valley for more than 28 years, has now retired from regular preaching.
The congregation joined with Mr Warburton to mark the occasion of his retirement on Sunday.
Tom Dodds, secretary to the local preachers, said: "I first heard Ian preach in Crawcrook centenary church, and he motivated me to offer myself as a local preacher.
"I’ve always enjoyed his style of preaching the Good news, always Biblically based, but always relevant to today."
Throughout his ministry, Mr Warburton mentored new preachers and served as secretary to the quarterly Local Preachers meeting.
For his farewell sermon, he chose Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
Mr Warburton is reportedly set to continue contributing to 'locally arranged' Sunday services at Prudhoe Methodist Church, which take place each week at 10.30am.
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