Among the priests were Cootamundra man Father Bill Pryce, Bill Wright of Gundagai and George Mullins who now resides in Victoria.

The late Len Brassington was also ordained on the same day.

Father Bill and George had not seen each other since they were ordained.

The quartet were ordained as deacons at the Church of St John the Baptists in Canberra on February 2, 1957.

Bill, George, Bill and Len had studied in preparation for their ordination at St John’s College in Morpeth.

The ordination was performed by the Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Ernest Burgmann with preacher The Reverend Harold Hunter ably assisting.

The two Bills have served most of their years of ministry with the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

Father Bill’s first ministry appointment was at St Paul’s in Temora.

He filled the role as the priest of the Cootamundra Christ Church Anglican from 1988 before retiring in 1997.

Father Bill is the great grandson of renowned pioneer priest The Reverend Edward Gifford Pryce.

Although it is a requirement that all priests are to retire from the ministry duties at age 65, Father Bill has remained an active member of the Christ Church Anglican for the past 15 years.

The late Mr Bassington, who died in 2006, served in several parishes before moving to work as a chaplain in the area of health and welfare in Melbourne, while George served mainly in Melbourne and from spend several years in the USA.