The Venerable George Austin retired today after 11 outspoken years as Archdeacon of York.

Archdeacon Austin: retires

The traditionalist churchman's views - he is a fierce opponent of the ordination of women, has condemned the church for taking too liberal a line on homosexuality and once criticised the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Runcie, for failing to take a moral lead - have often come under fire from Church modernists.

He said today he had no regrets about any of his pronouncements.

"But I have regrets that other people have not spoken out," he said.

Mr Austin, who will continue living in Wheldrake at a house which he bought as a retirement home, was today handing over the reins - or to be more precise the computer - to his successor, the Rev Richard Seed, currently vicar of Boston Spa. "He is coming to pick up the computer," Mr Austin said.

He has no regrets about leaving the job. "I can't wait. I have always been like that. I have always wanted to get on with it."

He says he plans to spend some of his retirement time finishing his first novel - a modern York mystery play - and also wants to continue researching his family tree, having already traced one branch of the family back to 1100.

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