A hospital chaplain is waiting to see whether church officials will support his decision to have a sex change.

The priest, who has works in a Sussex hospital, needs permission from his bishop to keep his licence to practice.

Today the Reverend David Guest, spokesman for the Diocese of Chichester, said the Bishop of Horsham, the Right Reverend Lindsay Urwin, would decide the matter.

He is taking charge because John Hinde, the incoming Bishop of Chichester, does not take up his position until May.

Mr Guest said: "The Bishop of Horsham has been talking to the person and hospital concerned. He is now taking time to consult and pray on the matter."

The Bishop has the power to revoke the priest's licence bestowed by the Church of England.

But Mr Guest said the Anglican Church was not his employer and it would be down to the hospital to decide its part-time chaplain's future if the licence was revoked.

The priest has started hormone therapy but is yet to undergo surgery.