Church of England to ordain 1,000 in 2015

Nearly 1,000 men and women are to be ordained priests and deacons in the Church of England this year.

Official figures show a total of 900 ordinations over the summer with 292 new deacons and 319 new priests ordained in dioceses across the country on the weekend of 4 and 5 July alone.

The ordinands included a former professional wrestler and a steam engine driver. One prison chaplain in Southwark will be ordained in prison, in what is believed to be a first.

Denis Hartley of HMP Thameside said: “I don’t think it would have happened without the input of the prisoners. They are a great bunch to be with. They can be very challenging, but it’s very rewarding.”

This year’s total is a small increase on the 2014 figure of 962.