ELEVEN men and women have been newly ordained as deacons and priests at Carlisle Cathedral.

Hundreds of friends, family and parishioners attended two special services, where the ordinations were greeted with applause.

At the Sunday morning service, six people were ordained deacon by the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev James Newcome, and they were presented with Bibles by the Bishop of Penrith, the Rt Rev Robert Freeman. The new deacons include:

- the Rev Jonathan Gillespie, to serve St Mary’s Church, Windermere, and Jesus Church, Troutbeck

- the Rev Gavin Rushton, to serve St Thomas’ Church, Kendal

- the Rev Sandy Pearl (permanent deacon) to serve the Leith-Lyvennet parishes, which include Crosby Ravensworth and Bolton, near Appleby

- and the Rev Mandy Jones, to serve Penrith Team Ministry.

The Sunday afternoon service saw five people ordained priest by the Bishop of Carlisle, including:

- the Rev Andrew Norman, to serve Cartmel Peninsula Team Ministry

- the Rev Joanna Hurst, to serve Holy Trinity Church, Kendal

- the Rev Katharine Butterfield, to serve the Benefice of Morland, Thrimby, Great Strickland and Cliburn with training incumbent Stewart Fyfe

- the Rev Robin Ham to serve Barrow Deanery as a pioneer minister.

"It’s always a wonderful privilege to see God working His purpose out as people journey towards ordination and beyond," said the Rev Peter Clement, diocesan director of ordinands.