A total of 14 new Honorary Canons, hailing from across the County were appointed during three recent services at Blackburn Cathedral.

Recognised for their work in different ways across The Church of England in Lancashire and beyond, they will be valued voices in Cathedral life.

Across the services - one of which had a particular focus on education - the three Bishops of the Diocese, the Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev. Philip North; the Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev. Dr Jill Duff and the Bishop of Burnley, Rt Rev. Dr Joe Kennedy, took turns to preach.

The new Honorary Canons were welcomed to the life of the Cathedral by the Interim Dean, Rev. Canon Andrew Horsfall and the services were also attended by the Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Ven. David Picken; the Archdeacon of Blackburn, The Ven. Jane Atkinson and the Cathedral’s Canon Missioner, Rev. Canon James Lawrence.

You can watch livestreaming recordings here:

• Service one
• Service two
• Service three

Writing in the Orders of Service, Rev. Andrew Horsfall added: "Lay Canons represent the unity and diversity of the body of the Church people throughout the Diocese. It belongs to the office of Lay Canon to seek to contribute to the corporate life of the Cathedral and to promote its mission and service and extend its influence throughout the Diocese.”

Bishop Philip added: “A canonry is not simply an honour but a shared responsibility in the governance and prayerful life of the Cathedral.

“What matters most is that the Chapter reflects the astonishing breadth of God’s people across Lancashire and I am grateful that these new Honorary Canons bring such a wide range of gifts, traditions and lived experience. It is a privilege to welcome them into the rhythm of Cathedral life.”

The 14 Honorary Canons are as follows, along with a brief citation … 

Pictures by Clive Lawrence - full captions at end of story. 

At service one …  

• Canon Sue Champness from Leyland, St John’s who has made a huge contribution to the development of lay ministry across the Diocese
• Rev. Canon David de Silva, from St Silas Church, Blackburn, who will be Canon for Presence and Engagement, rethinking Church life in the north of the town.
• Rev. Canon Munawar Din, Brierfield Vicar of St Cuthbert's Burnley and St Luke's Brierfield and the Diocese’s Dean of Global Heritage Ministry, who has pioneered intercultural ministry in the Diocese.
• Rev. Canon Linda Tomkinson, Ribbleton Parish in Preston, whose pioneering work on estates in Blackpool and Preston has had national impact.
• Rev. Canon Damian Platt, Christ Church, Thornton, who has contributed so richly to the renewal of parish life and who conceived the Diocese’s groundbreaking Fruitful app.

At service two …

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

And at service three, with a particular focus on education …

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

CAPTIONS

Service 1

Pictured at the first service held for the new Honorary Canons are, l-r The Ven. Jane Atkinson; Rev. Canon James Lawrence; Rev. Canon Linda Tomkinson; Rev. Canon Andrew Horsfall; Rev. Canon Damian Platt; Rt Rev. Philip North; Rev. Canon David de Silva; Rt Rev. Dr Joe Kennedy; Canon Sue Champness; The Ven. David Picken and Rev. Canon Munawar Din

Service 2

Pictured at the second service held for the new Honorary Canons are, l-r Rev. Canon James Lawrence; Rev. Canon Damian Porter; Canon Pete Baker; Rev. Canon Lucie Lunn; Rt Rev. Dr Jill Duff; Rt Rev. Philip North; Rt Rev. Dr Joe Kennedy; Rev. Canon Andrew Horsfall; Canon Becky Gilbert-Rule and Rt Rev. Canon Paul Swarbrick

Service 3

Pictured at the third service held for the new Honorary Canons are, l-r The Ven. Jane Atkinson; Canon Andy Purcell; Canon Rachel Gardner; Rt Rev. Philip North; Rt Rev. Dr Joe Kennedy; Rev. Canon Andrew Horsfall; Canon Iain Parks; The Ven. David Picken; Canon Belinda Haigh and Rev. Canon James Lawrence

Story by Ronnie Semley, March 2026