Rev Anna Walker has been commissioned as the new Director of Whalley Abbey at a weekend service in nearby St Mary’s Parish Church.

The Commissioning Service was conducted by the Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev Philip North, at the weekend.

After the service Bishop Philip said: "I was delighted to be able to commission Anna for this important new role; it was also an important moment in the life of our Diocese.

“Anna has a strong and clear vision of how to continue the growth of Whalley Abbey. She and her husband Andrew are passionate about living in community, providing a place of prayer and hospitality and helping to form new and deep disciples for Jesus Christ.”

The ancient Abbey site has been revitalised in more recent times as our ‘Diocesan Centre for Christian Discipleship and Prayer’.

It is open to people from our many parishes in Lancashire but also to anyone from the County and beyond who wants to take time out in a wonderful and peaceful setting.

Find out more about what the Abbey offers by clicking here.

Anna has been ordained for many years and, following a move from Finland to the UK, most recently served as Curate in the parishes of St Aidan’s Bamber Bridge and St Leonard’s Walton-le-Dale.

After the service, Anna added: “My hope is to grow the community and create different ways of belonging; to keep developing the programme we offer and to build more links with parishes.

“We're blessed that the Abbey has become such a fantastic facility in our Diocese and I look forward to everything God has in store for those who visit.”

• Read more here.
• And here is a BBC Radio Lancashire interview; (listen at 01.19.55 and 02.19.45) 
• Additional coverage in the Lancashire Telegraph 

Captions for the pictures, top to bottom:
All pictures taken by Clive Lawrence

1. A congratulatory hug for Rev Anna Walker before the commissioning service 
2. The Archdeacons of Blackburn and Lancaster, The Venerable Mark Ireland and the Venerable David Picken process prior to the service 
3. Bishop Philip presided at the commissioning service and delivered the sermon 
4. Rev Anna Walker and her husband Andrew pictured on the Abbey House steps before the service at the weekend 
5. Vicar of St Mary's, Rev Jonathan Carmyllie, leads the commissioning service prayers 
6. The procession heads from the church into the Abbey grounds after the commissioning service 
7. The new Director, Rev Anna Walker, leads prayers in the abbey grounds after the service