St Michael's Church, Shap was packed for the Licensing of Revd Martin Dew as House for Duty Assistant Priest for the High Westmorland Mission Unit. Mr Dew has until recently been an assistant priest at Natland near Kendal, and several former parishioners were among the congregation.  He and his wife Liz will live in Shap Vicarage.

As the congregation gathered, the Joint Unit Choir conducted by Bill Lawler sang an anthem and children from Shap C of E Primary School charmed everyone as they sang some of their favourite worship songs.

The Priest in Charge, Revd Beverley Lock welcomed everyone and the service began with a procession of ministers, churchwardens from each parish escorting the Bishop of Penrith the Right Reverend James Newcombe.

The new minister was presented to the Bishop by Mrs Lock, and Mr Dew made his affirmations. A passage from the first Epistle to the Corinthians was read by Janet Paxman of Ravenstonedale.

In his address the Bishop said that Christianity is about relationship with God. Our main aim should be to help create a mature Christian community rooted in the power of God. He urged everyone to be a support for Martin Dew and to share his mission.

The service continued with the choir singing the anthem 'The strife is o'er' by Henry Ley; Mr Dew then made his Declaration of Assent, Oath of Allegiance, Oath of Canonical Obedience before the Licensing. Prayers for the new minister were led by Jean Scott-Smith, Shap; the Bishop pronounced the Blessing then Mr Dew then led the Prayers of Intercession.

The bishop presented Mr Dew to the congregation and he and his wife were formally welcomed by Tom Coleman, Orton and Lois Whitaker, Shap head teachers of two of the schools, Michael Holland for the Methodist church, Professor Ron Taylor for the Roman Catholic Church, Sylvia Hindmarsh and Elsie Mounsey for Bampton Women's Institute, John Bull for Ravenstonedale Parish Council, Edward Hodgson for Shap Parish Council and Revd Simon Rudkin on behalf of Appleby Deanery Chapter.

Representatives from the parishes presented Mr Dew with symbols of ministry; Water of Baptism by Reg Capstick, Tebay; Oil of Healing by Mary Jenkin, Orton; the Bible by Maureen Barber, Bampton; a copy of Common Worship by Charles Wilman, Ravenstonedale and Bread and Wine by Jean Jackson, Shap.

Clergy and Readers joined Mr Dew as Mrs Jackson asked them to support each other in Shared Ministry.

The choir sang 'A Clare Benediction' by John Rutter, and after a blessing the Bishop, the procession reformed and left the church during the final hymn.  The organist was Janet Wood, and the offertory was for the Diocesan Ordination Candidates Fund.

Following the service refreshments were served in Shap Memorial Hall.