A VICAR who switched his religious allegiance after 28 years as an Anglican has been ordained as a Catholic priest.

Father Ian Grieves was ordained at St Anne’s Catholic Church, in Darlington, in a colourful ceremony last night.

The 56-year-old led a group of more than 50 church-goers from St James the Great Church, in the town, in joining the Catholic faith.

They joined the Ordinariate, a branch of the Roman Catholic Church for former congregations disillusioned with the Anglican faith because of changes in the Church of England, including plans to admit women bishops.

Yesterday’s service was led by the Right Reverend Seamus Cunningham, bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.

The choir sang ‘A Mass for Four Voices’, by William Byrd, before a reception in the church hall.

Fr Grieves, who has been attending regular seminaries in London since deciding to convert to Catholicism, said said the process had been a “journey of faith”.

Fr Grieves will give his first mass as a Catholic priest at St Anne’s on Friday, at 7.30pm.

The preacher will be Fr John Butters, parish priest of St Thomas of Canterbury Church, in Billingham.

The choir will sing The Sparrow Mass by Mozart.

:: From this Sunday, Fr Grieves will celebrate mass every week, on Sundays, at 10am, at St Anne’s in Welbeck Avenue, Darlington.