Diocese welcomes 27 new priests and deacons

Bishop Philip North (centre left) said many gifts were being unleashed

Twenty-seven men and women have been ordained priests and deacons for their Anglican diocese in three ordination services.

Fifteen men and 12 women were ordained for the Church of England Diocese of Blackburn in Lancashire.

The youngest was 24-year-priest Matt Gaze, who will serve at St Paul’s, Hoddlesden, St Barnabas Darwen and St Mary’s Grimehills, and the oldest was deacon Tim Cotterall, 63, who will serve at St Saviour’s in Bamber Bridge.

Those ordained came from a range of previous and current professions, including a headteacher, police detective superintendent, electrician and occupational therapist.

'Vision and energy'

Most are from Lancashire or across the UK but some came from further afield, including from Ohio in the US and Nowshera in Pakistan.

Bishop of Blackburn Philip North, who presided over a service at Blackburn Cathedral, said: "We have witnessed 27 men and women ordained, unleashing so many new gifts and so much vision and energy to churches around the diocese.”

Another group were ordained by the Rt Rev Dr Jill Duff, Bishop of Lancaster, who was celebrating the anniversary of her priestly ordination and consecration as a bishop.