New Honorary Canons have been appointed to serve Blackburn Cathedral and they will be commissioned at services in February and March this year. 

The diocese will have a photographer at each service and we will do a story on all three services at once when the last has taken place on March 8. 

Writing to parishes recently Rt Rev. Philip North, Bishop of Blackburn, said:  "A canonry carries a function within the governance of the Cathedral.

"It is important therefore to balance backgrounds, traditions and stages of ministry so that the Cathedral can hear from many voices. I am delighted that the following have been appointed as Honorary Canons:

To be installed at 4pm on Sunday, February 8 at 4pm

• Sue Champness who has made a huge contribution to the development of lay ministry across the Diocese
• The Revd David de Silva who will be Canon for Presence and Engagement, rethinking Church life in the North of Blackburn.
• The Revd Munawar Din who has pioneered intercultural ministry in our Diocese and serves as Dean of Global Majority Heritage Ministry.
• The Revd Linda Tomkinson whose pioneering work on estates in Blackpool and Preston has had national impact.
• The Revd Damian Platt who has contributed so richly to the renewal of parish life and who conceived our groundbreaking Fruitful app.

To be installed at 4pm on Sunday, March 1 at 4pm

• The Revd Damian Porter who has brought fresh life to a number of new parishes and chairs our Property Committee
• The Revd Lucie Lunn who is our Dean of Women’s Ministry and a strong voice for the rural church.
• Becky Gilbert-Rule, a Church architect who has made an outstanding contribution to the development of our buildings and serves on the DAC.
• Bishop Paul Swarbrick, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Lancaster who will be an Ecumenical Canon.
• Pete Baker, the leader of Life Church in Burnley who will be an Ecumenical Canon.

To be installed at 4pm on Sunday, March 8th at 4pm

• Rachel Gardner whose work in the field of youth ministry, especially with Youthscape and as a preacher and teacher, is of national significance.
• Iain Parks, our Director of Education, who oversees such a huge and critical area of our common life.
• Belinda Haigh, the long-serving Headteacher of St Gabriel’s Primary School in Blackburn.
• Andy Purcell, the equally long-serving Headteacher of St George’s School in Chorley.

Please keep these servants of the Lord in your prayers, and all are very welcome indeed at their Installations.

Ronnie Semley, February 2026