A CELEBRATION of 10 years of women priests has been held at Worcester Cathedral.

A decade ago, Worcestershire led the way on the ordination of women as priests, when the Rt Rev Philip Goodrich ordained 27 women deacons from the Worcester diocese.

Hundreds of people, many parish parties, came to the 10th anniversary celebration on Saturday at noon.

The service was led by the Rt Rev Dr Peter Selby, Bishop of Worcester.

The Rev Dr Jane Shaw, Dean of Divinity at New College, Oxford, preached on the Julian text of All Shall Be Well.

The All Saints Walsall Dance Group used colourful flags to add to the celebrations."

Afterwards there was a jazz picnic in the Cloisters at the Cathedral," said Nicola Currie, communications officer for the Worcester Diocese.

"It went very well."

Before the ordination process, women went through the same selection process as men, but there were certain duties they were not allowed to do such as baptising children, taking marriages or the Holy Communion.

Over the last 10 years, women are now serving as vicars and in various forms of specialist ministries, such as hospital, prison, or educational chaplains.

Some hold positions of significant responsibility, like team rector and rural dean, and others are on the staff of cathedrals.

At the moment, five are archdeacons (3.6 per cent of the total), and two are cathedral deans (4.6 per cent.)