A POPULAR Kent parish priest who conducted the funeral of television presenter Paula Yates is moving on after five years' service. The Rev Ian Black, priest-in-charge of the Brents and Davington with Oare and Luddenham, will take up a post at St Mary's, Whitkirk, near Leeds.

Mr Black took over in 1996 from the Rev Peter Geldard to become priest of the churches, having been ordained three years earlier. In his five years in the villages, he has been involved in several prominent local issues, notably the decision to close St John's Church at The Brents.

But now, he said, the churches felt very different and it was time for someone new to lead them into the next phases of their ministry.

"Faversham has some wonderful people and there are aspects of the town which we have all become fond of and will miss," said Mr Black. I have particularly enjoyed the contact I have had with local schools."

Mr Black, has a wife, Susan, and two young sons James and Michael. The family will move to Whitkirk in February.

Just over a year ago the nation's media attention focussed on St Mary Magdalene Church, Davington, as Mr Black conducted the funeral of Miss Yates, who had previously lived with her former husband Bob Geldoff at Davington Priory.

But to his parishioners Mr Black will be better remembered for his involvement in community issues. Church warden Laurence Young said: "Ian has done a great job for this parish."