Having gained a Cambridge Master of Arts (MA{Cantab}), an Oxford Master of Arts (MA{Oxon}) and a Diploma in Theology (DipTh),[5] Priddis was ordained in 1972 and began his ordained ministry as a deacon in New Addington, Surrey.
[7] In April 2007, Priddis was in the news as having vetoed the appointment of a gay youth officer who then brought Employment Tribunal proceedings against him claiming unlawful discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
The proceedings were successful and Priddis was found to have acted unlawfully by discriminating against the youth officer because of his sexuality.
[9][10][11] The diocese failed to agree a settlement and in February 2008 was ordered by the Employment Tribunal to pay the youth worker over £47,000 in compensation.
[13] Priddis previously attracted attention in the media for ordaining a transsexual woman to the priesthood in 2005, a decision that he defended against criticism from the Evangelical Alliance.