THE Rev Sam Rushton, Adviser for Licensed Ministry in the Diocese of Bristol, is to the new Archdeacon of Cleveland in the Diocese of York.

Ms Rushton will be collated and licensed as Archdeacon on May 6 at St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Pickering.

She succeeds the Venerable Paul Ferguson, who became Bishop of Whitby in July 2014.

As well as Adviser for Licensed Ministry for the Diocese, Ms Rushton is also Area Dean of Chippenham Deanery. Her appointment by the Archbishop of York was announced this morning.