The murder of a retired teacher stabbed to death at her home and that of a clergyman killed at his vicarage have been "formally linked", detectives said.

West Mercia Police officers investigating the murder of retired teacher Betty Yates, 77, at her home in Bewdley, Worcestershire, on January 2 say they are working with officers investigating the stabbing of the Reverend John Suddards, 59, in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, last Tuesday.

Mrs Yates was found dead at the bottom of stairs at her home on the banks of the River Severn on January 4, having been killed two days earlier. Mr Suddards's body was discovered on February 14 by workmen who arrived to carry out work at the vicarage.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "It can also be confirmed that, following close liaison with Avon and Somerset Police, detectives have formally linked the murder of Mrs Yates to the murder of the Reverend John Suddards in South Gloucestershire. Reverend Suddards, 59, was found dead in his home in Thornbury on Tuesday February 14, 2012. Like Mrs Yates, he had been stabbed to death."

Stephen Farrow, 47, was arrested in Folkestone, Kent, in the early hours of this morning in connection with Mr Suddards's death after a nationwide appeal by Avon and Somerset Police.

His arrest came hours before a senior church figure said the clergy should continue to open their doors to "people who are distressed and angry" in the wake of Mr Suddards's murder.

The Venerable Geoffrey Sidaway, Archdeacon of Gloucester, spoke after taking the Sunday morning service at St Mary's Church, saying it was not the time for the clergy to close their doors.

"By the nature of the position, clergy are often dealing with people who are distressed and angry, and that can put us in very vulnerable situations," he said. "The door must stay open - that is the whole point of the job. We need to be a church with an open door which is there to welcome and to help everyone."

West Mercia Police said a 47-year-old man was arrested in Kent on behalf of the force and was being transferred into the custody of Avon and Somerset Police. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson said: "We would like to thank Avon and Somerset Police for their help in our investigation. We have been working with them to examine similarities between the deaths of Betty Yates and the Reverend John Suddards."

Mr Suddards was found stabbed to death at his home in Castle Street in Thornbury by workmen who arrived at the vicarage next to St Mary's Church and found it was locked. When they were let into the house they found his body.