THE prayers of vicars' husbands across the region could soon be answered.

A website - cucumbersand-wiches.org - has been launched to support men who find themselves in a role once filled by patient wives.

With more than 60 female clergy in the Diocese of Durham alone, there is no shortage of husbands taking on a domestic role while the wives make the parish visits.

John Shedden, whose wife, Val, is the vicar of St Mary's, Heworth, Gateshead, said he would be interested in visiting the site after 20 years supporting her in the clergy.

Semi-retired Mr Shedden, 49, has worked for much of his life as a teacher and helped to bring up two children.

"Fortunately, I'm not expected to fit into the traditional vicar's wife role. As far as I'm aware there is no role of a vicar's husband - I don't make jam or run the Mothers' Union."

Mrs Shedden was ordained as a deaconess in the early 1980s and admitted to the priesthood in 1994. Over the years her family has moved between vicarages in Spennymoor, Darlington, Bishop Middleham and Heworth.

"We maybe wouldn't have moved so much if I hadn't been a vicar. But John is eternally patient and really supportive," she said.

"It can be hard for him, especially with all the phone calls and visits, but I try to protect him and our daughters as much as I can and have meetings away from the vicarage."

The website has been set up by Brian Irvine, whose wife, Cate, is a curate in Romsey, Hampshire.

On the light-hearted Internet site, clergy-husbands are encouraged to set up a profile about themselves and advised on how to escape involvement within the parish.