TWENTY years of women’s priestly ministry will be celebrated this weekend in a special service at York Minster.

Female priests, family, friends and well-wishers from across the region will attend the 11am service on Saturday.

The Dean of York, the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, will lead the service, and the Archbishop of York’s wife, Margaret Sentamu, will preach the sermon.

Women were first ordained as priests at the Minster in May 1994 and many of those ordained in that service, and in others ordained that spring, will be present.

The Dean said: “I was one of those women ordained priest in 1994, and I am delighted to be here and to give thanks for the journey so far.”

Mrs Sentamu said, “Although I am not ordained myself, I have been blessed by many female priests over the last twenty years, and have been privileged to serve God alongside them.

“This service is a chance for everyone to give thanks to God for the priestly ministry of women in the church, and to look forward to how we can all serve God in our lives.”

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will be present at the service, and will give a blessing at the end of the celebrations.