Priests return to Crawley parishes after ordinations at the cathedral

Rev Jill Alderton, Rev Sandra Bale, Rev Gerry Burgess and Rev Jamie Gater were among 16 candidates ordained as Church of England priests in May the after three years of initial training.

Each of the candidates was ordained deacon last year and have served their first year as curate in their parishes.

They are now, as priests, additionally able to celebrate the Eucharist, also called Holy Communion, and offer a blessing.

Ordinands took an oath before being ordained as priests by the Bishop of Lewes, the Rt Rev Richard Jackson, and then were given a gift of a Bible before joining their family and friends for celebration.

More than 700 people turned up to celebrate the special day and to support the candidates. Among them were friends, family and colleagues who gathered to witness the ceremony. The priests will now complete their curacies in the parishes.

The Rev Alderton returned to Crawley Down, Rev Burgess to Gossops Green, Rev Gater to Ifield and Rev Bale to the parish of Forest Row and Ashurst Wood.

Also at the cathedral ordained were Rev Jill Hartman, Rev Debbie Beer, Rev Hugh Bourne, Rev David Crook, Rev James Isaacs, Rev Nicol Kinrade, Rev Sarah Manouch, Rev Ben Sear, Rev Adam Ransom, Rev Sara-Jane Stevens, Rev Christine Spencer and Rev Sean Gilbert.