7th September 2026

Excitement builds in Church of England parishes for one of the County's biggest ever mission events

Excitement builds for one of the largest coordinated mission outreaches ever held in Lancashire

Churches across Lancashire are preparing to welcome thousands of people as the Diocese of Blackburn's Centenary Mission Weekend takes place from September 11 to 13.

Over the three days, parishes the length and breadth of the county will be hosting special events, family activities, community celebrations and opportunities to explore the Christian faith; reflecting the Diocese’s centenary theme 'All for Jesus'.

There are family fun days, barbecues and other outdoor and nature-based activities; events involving sport, music and dancing; country shows, Songs of Praise services and community gatherings – and that’s just scratching the surface!

All these activities will sit alongside the usual Sunday morning services on the final day where everyone is welcome; while some parishes also have further mission events planned for Sunday afternoon and evening.

Mission weekend events in a parish close to you can be found on the 'A Church Near You' website www.achurchnearyou.com website.

Each event taking place will reflect the character of its local community. They will be an opportunity to kick back, relax and have some fun and they all share one purpose: helping as many people as possible to encounter the hope there is in Jesus.

The mission weekend is a key part of the Diocese of Blackburn's ongoing centenary year celebrations and represents one of the largest coordinated mission outreach initiatives ever undertaken by churches across Lancashire.

Many events are designed for people who do not regularly attend church and offer a warm, informal opportunity to enjoy community activities. Churches will also be offering follow-up opportunities to ask questions and discover even more about the Christian faith.

Rev Steve Haskett, Director of Mission for the Diocese of Blackburn, said: "For generations, churches have been at the heart of communities across Lancashire and this coming weekend gives us a wonderful opportunity to share the message that continues to change lives today: there is hope in Jesus Christ.

"Every event is different, but they all have a common purpose. We want people to know that they are loved by God, valued by their local church and invited to explore the Christian faith.

"We are looking forward with great expectation and excitement to seeing people come together and celebrating all that God is doing across Lancashire."

You can follow the wider picture of what’s happening across the County throughout the weekend, with highlights being showcased and shared on Diocesan social media channels. Those are the Diocesan Facebook and Instagram accounts and the Diocesan Board of Education's Facebook and Instagram accounts.

There will also be further coverage in the local and regional media; on the Diocesan website www.blackburn.anglican.org as well as in the Parish Update ebulletin sent to all parishes.

Rt Rev Philip North, Bishop of Blackburn, will be attending as many events as he can across the three days.

He said today: "Our Centenary Mission Weekend is a wonderful opportunity for us to share the hope of Jesus Christ with the people of Lancashire. Across our towns, villages and cities, our churches will be All for Jesus: opening their doors, serving their communities and inviting people to discover the love of God for themselves.

"If you've never stepped inside a church or haven’t attended for a long time it doesn’t matter; there will be something for everyone and you will be welcome. We want as many people as possible to come along, enjoy what's happening in their local area and make some new connections while exploring the Christian faith.

"As we celebrate our centenary year we look forward with joy and expectation to all that God will do this coming weekend.”

Captions for the above pictures, top to bottom:

1. The All for Jesus logo for the Diocese of Blackburn’s centenary year
2. Rt Rev Philip North, Bishop of Blackburn
3. Rev Steve Haskett, Diocesan Director of Mission