The Bishop of London has ordained three new men and women to London’s growing team of clergy.

Richard Chartres ordained the three who will all join churches in the Stepney area, which covers Hackney and Islington.

They are part of this year’s group of thirty new clergy joining churches across London as deacons in a drive to ramp their numbers up by 50 per cent in the next seven years.

Richard Springer will join St Peter De Beauvoir Town, Gloria Naylor St Mary Islington and Sue Making who is joining St Anne Hoxton.

Bishop of Stepney, the Rt. Revd. Adrian Newman, said the three bring “ great wealth of East London experience” while embodying the “vibrant diversity of the area”.

He added: “I know they will make a great contribution to the way we serve our communities here, and they will find it a wonderful place to lay the foundations of their future ministry.

The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres said: “This is the high point of the year for me.”