A priest and a church organist have been charged with child abuse dating back more than 20 years.

Church of England vicar the Reverend Keith Wilkie Denford has been charged with three counts of abusing boys under the age of 16 during the late 1980s.

Rev Denford, now 72, and living in Broad Reach Mews, Shoreham, was the vicar at St John the Evangelist Church in Burgess Hill at the time of the alleged abuse.

Michael Mytton, 68, of South Road, East Chiltington, who was a church organist in the Lewes area, was charged with aiding and abetting the assault of a boy in Cuckfield at some point between January 1987 and December 1990.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Child protection detectives in West Sussex have charged two men with sexual offences allegedly committed between 22 and 25 years ago.

“Denford has been charged with three indecent assaults on a boy then under 16, two in or near Shoreham, and one in or near Cuckfield on dates between June 1987 and January 1990, and has also been charged with one indecent assault on another boy then aged under 16 in or near Cuckfield on dates between January 1987 and December 1990.

“Mytton has been charged with one offence of aiding and abetting Denford in the alleged Cuckfield assault on the first of the two boys referred to.”

Both men were arrested last November. At the time of their arrest the Diocese of Chichester confirmed that Mr Mytton had previously worked as a church organist and that the semi-retired vicar had been suspended at the time of his arrest.

A spokeswoman for the diocese said yesterday: “We have been cooperating with the police and other related public authorities throughout the investigation.

“In accordance with diocesan procedures both men were suspended from all duties immediately upon receiving advice from the local safeguarding authorities.”

Both men have been released on bail and ordered to appear at Mid Sussex Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday May 22.

The church urged anyone with concerns about abuse to contact the diocesan safeguarding adviser Colin Perkins on 01273 421021.