JOURNAL OF BLACKBURN DIOCESE : THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN LANCASHIRE

THE

See MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2017

The See can also be found on the Diocesan Website: www.blackburn.anglican.org under News, or scan the ‘QR code’ on the back page

with your smartphone to be taken to the Diocese website page which contains the current and archive editions of The See.

The Diocese is to set up its first Youth Council; an opportunity for young members of the church across the County to champion the voice of the younger generation.

The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education is proposing a 16-strong group of 13 to 18 year olds, recruited by direct application, that will raise awareness of youth culture and how this might be harnessed and engaged with by churches.

Members will also be asked to support churches in creating youth-accessible worship, and developing a voice for young people at parish level. And a big challenge will be to create and assess an approval system for churches similar to The Child Friendly Church Award.

The Board of Education has put together an application form and criteria, as well as the ‘terms of reference’ for the new group.

Through the Director of Education, Stephen Whittaker, members of the DYC will also be able to advise and give feedback to the Bishop’s Leadership Team, the Bishop’s Council, the Board of Education, the Diocesan Synod and Diocesan Youth Committee.

Members of the DYC aged 16+ will also have the opportunity to serve on the Board of Education and the Youth Committee. One will serve as Vice Chair of the committee.

Members will be expected to attend six meetings in a year, including one overnight residential meeting, and additional meeting times may be needed.

Meetings will usually take place on a Monday evening from 6.30-8.30pm at different venues across the Diocese.

Stephen said: “One of the big hopes for the DYC is to be a catalyst for seeing change in worship to increase its accessibility for young people within

the context of a multi-generational church, regardless of tradition.”

Ben Green, Diocesan Youth Adviser, added: “With the right members, the DYC can be a positive influence in helping the Church of England in Lancashire adapt to meet the needs of young people, and those of all ages, both in and outside the church to reveal God’s love, grace and hope in local communities.”

If you want to know more about the new Youth Council, please contact youth@blackburn.anglican.org or visit the Youth Council page on the Board of Education website (www.bdeducation.org.uk) for more information and an application form.

Giving a voice to our young

people

Pictured here are young people from Christ Church, Fulwood, Preston, where they were recently given a voice in choosing their new vicar. As part of the job profile put together by Christ Church, the youngsters compiled a list of key requirements for their new vicar which included liking sport; being modern and funky; being kind and cool and willingness to high-five all young people as they leave the church! Commenting on the list, Archdeacon Michael Everitt said: “The voice of the young is equally important as the voices of older members of our churches … because work with young people is at the heart of our Diocesan Vision 2026. I will be praying for a successful recruitment process for Christ Church.”

Leading adoption agency, Adoption Matters, held a celebratory afternoon tea event at Whalley Abbey in the beautiful Ribble Valley recently to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

People from across Lancashire attended the 40s-themed event including adopters, donors, local authority partners and representatives from the Diocese of Blackburn, including Bishop Julian and Archdeacon Michael.

The agency has its roots going back to 1947 with the Blackburn Diocese Adoption Agency and also Chester Diocesan Adoption Services. Those two agencies merged in 2007 forming Adoption Matters which still has strong links with both Dioceses.

The event at Whalley Abbey celebrated the achievement of placing more than 4000 children with their ‘forever families’ across a 70-year history. Last year alone they placed 76 children, the highest number since 1967.

Bishop Julian, who is also President of Adoption

Matters, said: “Adoption Matters is a wonderful organisation and I was delighted to be able to join them for this special event at Whalley Abbey, our Diocesan Retreat and Conference Centre. It was an opportunity to celebrate 70 years of faithful service.”

For more information about adoption and the different options available, visit: www.adoptionmatters.org or call 0300 123 1066

Abbey event to mark 70 years

of adoption

Left to right, some of the Trustees at the Abbey event, Annesley Wright (Trustee); Susy White (Finance and Operations Director); Norman Goodwin CBE, Chief Executive; Bishop of Blackburn, The Right Rev Julian Henderson; Dave Champness (Trustee); Carolyn Johnson (Adoption Matters Chair of Board of Trustees); Sally Winstanley (Trustee); David Cracknell (Vice Chairman); Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Venerable Michael Everitt.

A free communications and marketing advice day – ‘Get Your Church Noticed’ - for Church of England parishes across Lancashire took place in October.

Ronnie Semley, Diocesan Communications Manager, was joined by his colleague Neil Pugmire, the Communications Manager for Portsmouth Diocese and author of the book ‘100 Ways To Get Your Church Noticed’, to lead the session.

The event was attended by nearly 40 people and gave straightforward, practical ideas for church

promotion – covering everything from better church noticeboards and getting the welcome right, to the effective use of social media. Subsequent feedback from delegates has been excellent.

‘Get Your Church Noticed’ is now an annual date in the Lancashire church calendar.

Ronnie said: “Parishes appreciated the opportunity to learn some handy tips from communications professionals who work for and understand the

Church of England.”

Delegates were welcomed to the event by The Archdeacon of Lancaster, The Venerable Michael Everitt.

He said: "This course will greatly assist our parishes as we continue to work together to achieve the aims of our Vision 2026: Healthy Churches Transforming Communities."

If you missed the day, look out for next year’s event (date TBC) and visit the Resources section of www.blackburn.anglican.org for useful tips and advice in a dedicated ‘Get Your Church Noticed’ section.

Practical advice is well received

Left: Delegates listen during the Get Your Church Noticed event at the Diocesan offices

Right: Ronnie Semley and Neil Pugmire

COMMENT: ARCHDEACON MARK / NEWS

I bought two tickets for a Blackburn Rovers’ match recently. Years ago, I had a season-ticket when we were in the Premiership, but these days buying tickets for the Rovers is a triumph of hope over experience!

However, I suspect there is an incurable optimist lurking inside football fans of every team as the season stretches out in front of them: this year, things will improve, this year we will get promotion, this year we will win the trophy.

But, as all teams know, things don’t always work out as planned, and seasons that begin with great hopes often end in heart-wrenching disappointment.

Besides being a (not very good) football fan, I am also a (not very good) Christian. Is my Christian faith also a triumph of hope over experience, a blind faith that the world will improve, despite the suffering, the violence and the selfishness all too evident around us?

We live in an age of uncertainty, with dangers of war and terrorism; hopes and fears about the impact of Brexit and our growing awareness of the fragility of our planet.

Despite all this, as Christians we have a sure and certain hope for the future that is more than blind optimism. Christians have a confident hope in the future because God has turned desolation into joy by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, and one day the whole creation will be healed when God’s kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven.

Human beings are not simply collections of chemicals that have evolved by chance, but rather are created by a loving God in his own image. Life has meaning - we are invited to be God’s friends and to work with God for the healing of his world.

When a season is going badly every Saturday football fans have a choice, to stay at home and moan, or to turn out and try to get behind the team and lift their spirits.

And when the world is in a mess every Sunday we have a choice, either to stay at home and moan, or to turn out to worship, and strengthened by the Spirit of God to be bringers of hope to our communities.

Now where did I put those tickets?

Christ gives us

certain hope

for the future

Recently I joined a group of 70 Muslims and Christians from Blackburn who gathered at St Silas Church in the town.

We met together for reflections by Imam Fazlurrahman and myself on the Qur’anic and Biblical accounts of Abraham’s sacrifice of his son.

The purpose of the day was to get to know one another better, and to promote friendship, respect and trust. After the talks were over everyone shared a delicious meal together.

Rev. Sheelagh Aston and the congregation of St. Silas were marvellous hosts, and Rev. Canon Dr Arun John, Vicar of St James’, Blackburn, ended the

meeting with closing reflections

The gathering was a moving theological encounter, which I believe has done much to draw together residents from both communities in the West Blackburn/Beardwood area of the town.

Archdeacon Mark Ireland

Pictured in St Silas Church in Blackburn are, l-r, Dr Irfan Zafar, GP at Roe Lee Surgery; Sabir Esa, deputy chair of the local Conservative party; Imam Fazlurrahman Hassan; Archdeacon Mark Ireland, Rev Sheelagh Aston; Rev Canon Dr Arun John and Imtiaz Hussain, Conservative Councillor for Beardwood and Lammack.

October 2017 marked the 90th Anniversary of Blackburn Diocesan Mothers’ Union; part of an international Christian membership charity that aims to demonstrate the Christian faith in action through the transformation of communities worldwide.

Mothers’ Union was founded 141 years ago in 1876, when Mary Sumner first brought together parents in her own parish to build their confidence in bringing up their children in the Christian faith.

Since then Mothers’ Union has grown to over 4 million members worldwide. Its members work to bring hope and practical support to millions of people every year through parenting, literacy and community development programmes and through its volunteer base of local churches.

In 2016 Mothers’ Union members directly touched the lives of over two-thirds of a million people worldwide, including over 100,000 in Britain and Ireland. Mothers’ Union in Blackburn Diocese has links with five dioceses across the world; High Veld in South Africa, Nambale in Kenya, Niger-Delta in Nigeria, Bhopal in India and Guinea.

Membership in Blackburn Diocese now totals 3,395 in 128 branches across 14 deaneries. Nine branches have been in existence since 1899, having been established whilst part of Manchester Diocese.

Current projects in the diocese include …

Activity quilts, muffs, bracelets and teddies, for those suffering from dementia and strokes. These provide a constructive activity to help maintain finger skills and provide stimulation and distraction

‘Away From It All’ holidays for families in need in our own caravan on the Lancashire coast. This year 20 families from across the diocese will have benefited from a much-needed holiday that they wouldn’t otherwise have been able to take. Holidays for ‘Tired Mums’ were first offered in 1936 – 81 years ago!

Blessings boxes for people who may be grieving, sick, lonely or depressed.

Knitwear for neo-natal units in hospitals providing garments and blankets for families of premature babies.

‘Mums and Tots’ Cookbook to help support young families on a tight budget.

Prayer underpins all Mothers’ Union work with emergency prayer circles operating in all the deaneries.

At the MU 140th Anniversary Service at Winchester Cathedral in 2016, Archbishop Justin Welby introduced his sermon by reminding listeners that the Mothers’ Union throughout the world faces the most extreme odds that cannot be overcome, except through the action of God and he added its membership is often a

place of humour, as well as of prayer, of laughter, as well as of spiritual life.

The Mothers’ Union in Blackburn, across the United Kingdom and the world continues to provide help, sometimes in the most desperate of situations knowing it can only do so by remaining God centred, with the love of Jesus at the heart of everything it does.

Ninety years of faithful service

Members of the Blackburn Diocesan MU at Winchester Cathedral in 2016

Some members representing the local Mothers’ Union at the ‘Go’ Christian resources event at Runshaw College in Leyland in 2016.

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Forthcoming events

A Nativity Crib Festival 2017 is to be held at St Mary the Virgin, Church Lane, Goosnargh PR3 2BN on Thursday 30 November at 6pm. Opening service with Archdeacon Michael Everitt. All proceeds to Derian House. For more information please contact Delphine Burn on 01772 865487 or delphineburn@hotmail.co.uk

Holy Trinity Church, Hoghton, PR5 0SJ is holding a Christmas Tree and Crib Festival on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 December from 10.30am until 4pm and Sunday 3 December from noon until 4pm. The theme is ‘Jesus, Light of the World’. Admission is free. Bishop Julian will open the Festival on Friday 1 December at 11.30 am. For further details elisabeth. flowerfestival@gmail.com

Christmas Tree Festival to be held at St James’ Church, Slater Lane, Leyland PR26 7SH. Saturday 18 November, 10am to 4pm and Sunday 19 November 2017, 1pm to 4pm. All welcome while a Christmas Fair will be held at St James’ on Saturday 2 December 2017, 1pm to 4pm. All welcome.

Sunday 19 November at 4pm, Taize and contemporary worship at Lytham St Cuthbert, Church Road, Lytham, FY8 5QL

St Paul's Low Moor, Clitheroe BB7 2LT is hosting a Christmas Tree Festival on Saturday 2 December and Sunday 3 December 2017. The festival will open to the public from 11am to 4pm on both dates and there will be festive music, craft stalls and refreshments available.

St Andrews Church, Cleveleys FY5 1DP is holding a Christmas Tree Festival and Christmas Fayre on Saturday 25 November from 10am to 4pm. There will be light lunches, stalls and children's activities. Sunday 26 November at 3pm there will be a special service.

Christmas Tree Festival at St Peter’s Church, Quernmore LA2 9EF on Thursday 30 November to Monday 4 December inclusive. Open noon to 5pm weekdays, 10am to 5pm at weekend. Free entry, refreshments available and raffle.

St Michael's Church, Cockerham LA2 0EQ is hosting its second Christmas Tree Festival of traditional and alternative Christmas Trees on Friday 1 December to Sunday 3 December from 11am to 4pm. Free admission and festive refreshments will be available. Contact: Sue on 01524 791650.

Come and enjoy the Friday Lunchtime Recital at St George the Martyr, Preston. On Friday 3 November with performers from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Doors open 11am and recital starts at 12.30pm and lasts about 50 minutes. Tickets on door £7 (including refreshments beforehand). A season ticket is available.

St Silas Parish Church, Preston New Road, Blackburn BB2 6PS on Saturday 4 November at 10.30am, is holding a coffee morning with organ music played by Stewart Whillis, organist at Hurst Green Parish Church. Coffee from 10.30am, organ music for about 30 minutes from 11am. Entrance £5, everyone welcome.

The acclaimed Christmas Concert at Christ Church, Chatburn on Friday 1 December will include The Gelato's trio swinging songs from the 40's and 50's plus the Colne Orpheus Male Voice Choir with popular Christmas songs. Ticket price of £10; can be obtained from Roy Porter Butcher, Chatburn or 01254 384893.

St James the Great, Wrightington with Heskin WN6 9SP. On Saturday 4 November Grand Bonfire and Fireworks will be held on the church field. Gates open at 6pm, fire lit at 6.30pm, call 01257 450433 for further details. On Friday 10 November from 7pm to 9.30pm, John Bowdler, organist to play at the church. For further information or ticket details, please telephone 01257 424105. On Saturday 18 November from 1.30pm, Christmas Fair with Grand Christmas Draw to be held in the Church Hall and on Friday 1 December from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, Eccleston Brass Band Christmas

concert in the church. Tickets £8 including refreshments and are available in church or by telephoning 01257 424105.

Fairtrade Christmas Market to be held at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Liverpool Road, Longton PR4 5AA. On Friday 17 and Saturday 18 November from 10am to 5.30pm. For further details contact Cath Greenlees on 01772 613500.

St Peter’s, Ribchester Road, Salesbury BB1 9HU presents ‘Brothers in Arms’ on Friday 17 November at 7.30pm. Admission free, donations welcome. Contact Rev Lesley Hinchcliffe on 01254 396485 for more information.

St Ambrose Halls for All, Moss Lane, Leyland, PR25 4XA. All welcome to Dave’s special ‘Quiz Night’ on Friday 10 November at 7.30pm, tickets £5 including hot pot supper. Bookings in advance from 01772 422878. Christmas Fair is on Saturday 18 November at 2pm. Further details from 01772 623426 or visit our website www.stambrose.info

Situations vacant or wanted

St Paul's Parish Church, Low Moor, Clitheroe require an organist to play on Sunday mornings (Hymns Old and New). Remuneration to be discussed with our churchwardens, Diane Steer on 01200 424997 or Johanna Smith on 01200 424935, but generally in line with RSCM rates.

Christ Church, Chatburn BB7 4BE requires an organist to play on Sunday mornings at 11am as well as weddings and funerals as soon as possible. Further details and remuneration can be discussed with Rev Andy Froud, 01200 423317 or with our churchwardens Daphne Porter (01200 441690) or Valerie Mewis (01200 440335).

St Mary’s Church in Mellor is seeking an organist to play on the 1st and 4th Sunday each month at a 9:30am Further information can be obtained from the Vicar, Charles Jefferson, on 01254 491464. Fees are open to discussion.

Clergy updates

The Rev Lee Martin Daniels, Vicar of North and East Blackburn has been appointed Vicar of Blackpool St Christopher and St Nicholas and was Instituted by the Bishop of Burnley and Inducted by the Archdeacon of Lancaster on 1 November 2017 at 7.30pm at St Christopher’s.

The Rev James Gwyn Thomas, Curate at Leyland St

Andrew and Buckshaw Village Church has been appointed Priest-in-Charge of the Conventional District of Buckshaw Village Church and was Licensed by the Archdeacon of Blackburn on 10 September 2017 at 2pm at Buckshaw Village Church.

The Rev John Martin Hallows has been appointed House for Duty Vicar of Gisburn St Mary the Virgin and will be Instituted by the Bishop of Burnley and Inducted by the Archdeacon of Blackburn on 7 December 2017 at 7.30pm at St Mary’s.

The Rev Shahriar Ashrafkhorasani, Curate at Preston Fulwood St Cuthbert, has moved to the parish of Bamber Bridge St Saviour to serve as Curate there and was Licensed by the Bishop of Blackburn on 3 October 2017 at 12noon at Bishop’s House.

The Rev Neil Salt, who holds the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate in the Diocese, has been appointed Vicar (half-time) of Grimsargh St Michael and will be Instituted by the Bishop of Blackburn and Inducted by the Archdeacon of Lancaster on 27 November 2017 at 7.30pm at St Michael’s.

The Rev Michael Brian Roberts was licensed as House for Duty Priest-in-Charge of Woodplumpton St Anne on 17 September 2017 at St Anne’s.

Canon Andrew Robert Pratt was re-licensed as Diocesan Inter-Faith Adviser by the Bishop of Blackburn on 1 October 2017 at 3pm at Preston St Stephen.

The Rev Thomas Henry Davis has resigned as Vicar (3/4 time) of Morecambe St Barnabas and was Instituted and Licensed to his new posts as Vicar (half-time) of Douglas St Matthew the Apostle and Team Leader of the Douglas Residential Homes Pastoral Care Team (half-time) in the Diocese of Sodor and Man on 23 October 2017.

The Rev Mark John Williams has resigned as Vicar of Burnley St Matthew the Apostle (Habergham Eaves) and will be Licensed as Team Rector of the Worsley Team Ministry in the Diocese of Manchester on 9 October 2017.

The Rev Dr Alexander David Laing Baker has resigned from his post as Vicar of Gisburn St Mary the Virgin on 29 October 2017. Alex will move to Permission to Officiate following his departure from the Parish.

The Rev Canon Brian Mayne retired recently as Chaplain of HMP Kirkham. Brian will become Canon Emeritus and be granted the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate in the Diocese.

The Rev Brian John Watson Robinson, who returned to the Diocese in 1997 after his retirement as Hospital Chaplain in the North East and held the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate until this year, died on 19 August 2017. His funeral took place on 15 September 2017 at Woodplumpton St Anne following a private cremation.

The Rev John Cayton, who held the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate in the Diocese, died on 23 September 2017. His funeral took place on 13 October 2017 at Fleetwood St Nicholas followed by cremation at Carleton Crematorium.

The Rev Canon Michael Leslie Hartley has been granted the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate in the Diocese.

Heapey and Withnell Parishes were blessed by the visit of 15 Kenyans recently. All of the visitors were from Thika Diocese, just outside Nairobi. The link began in 2014 and continues to grow through regular contact on social media and a commitment to pray for one another. The link involves support for the Namratah Shah Children’s Home run by the Diocese of Thika, and particular support for the Parish of Gatanga. Bishop Julian also called by to meet the delegation during their visit. One of the party,

The Venerable James Kamura, commented: “We want to say how grateful we are for the overwhelming love that you showed us. It was beyond our expectation.”

Pictured with Diocesan Director of Education Stephen Whittaker, centre, are Richard and Debbie Jagger. The

couple retired together in October. They had many years of service for the Board of Education between them; Debbie as Governor and School Improvement Administrator and Richard as School Buildings Finance Officer. Colleagues held a special retirement celebration for the couple and gifts were presented by Stephen.

NEWS News? Feedback? thesee@blackburn.anglican.org

Deadline

for

the

December

edition

is

November 3,

2017

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Did you know (writes Elizabeth Swarbrick, member of the Diocesan World Mission Group) our Diocese supports Mission Partners working in six locations overseas and two chaplains to the forces?

Ann Moore (pictured) has worked with CMS as a Nurse at Kisiizi Hospital Uganda for 21 years. She has special responsibility in the special care baby unit and the school of nursing. She is supported by St. John’s Church Little Thornton.

She says: “As I get older I am becoming more aware of Paul’s words (I Cor. 10:12) ‘If you think you are standing firm be careful that you don’t fall’. We must all continue to walk closely with our Lord. May we walk more closely day by day.”

Derek and Nerina Harborne have worked with African Inland Mission (AIM) in Mbarara, Uganda

for five years. Their sending church is St Andrew’s Leyland and Buckshaw Village Church

They are working in medical care and training, university teaching, student discipleship and church mobilisation.

Rev. Paul Hunter is working with Crosslinks in Mpanda Tanzania. His sending church is also St. Andrew’s Leyland and he is into the third year of his contract, with the possibility of renewal for a further three years

‘Graham and Fiona’ have worked with AIM for 27 years. We are asked to pray for their work, their safety and all their colleagues and to give thanks for the continued blessings they receive. Their supporting churches are St Peter and St Barnabas Darwen and St John Baxenden.

Rev. Peter and Mrs Hwee Ping Warren have been based in Cambodia for seven years. Peter was previously Vicar of Christ Church Blackpool, their sending church. Currently they are on sabbatical leave.

Nicola Anderson is working in Thailand with 1Step2Step. She works as a volunteer in a

government orphanage for disabled children. 'She asked for prayer to know God's will for which projects and tasks to prioritize more highly and how to manage time wisely. Her sending Church is St. Thomas Lancaster.

In addition to the above missionaries, please also remember in your prayers Padre Giles Allen and Padre Gary Humphreys who are both serving Army Chaplains.

Blackburn Prayers, available on the website and emailed to parishes, will also include, in the near future, the missionaries above for regular prayer

Pray for Mission

partners around

the world

It was great to meet up recently with some Vision Champions at St Peter's Quernmore; a village church whose worship space has been adapted for multi-purpose usage, writes Dave Champness, Vision Coordinator.

We talked about the particular opportunities and challenges of growing a worshipping community in a rural setting.

We heard from one parish where there has been a large increase in Sunday School attendance driven in part by an intentional change to service patterns to include a child-friendly non-Eucharist service and for baptism families to be invited to a second service at which they receive the candle.

Other ideas included 'cuppa and chat' based in the church hall which people were bussed to; this is having a positive impact on rural loneliness.

We were reminded that we should be conscious of the needs of the target congregation for outreach, for example, in rural areas hold a plough Sunday in January; perhaps including the blessing of tractors and perhaps providing 'chaplaincy' services at the auction mart. #

Darker evenings create opportunities to admire

God's celestial handiwork through stargazing away from the impact of streetlights and many parishes have found that a Christmas tree festival is effective for bringing people in.

There are some useful resources for rural churches available from the Arthur Rank website, including the Equipping for rural mission course see: http://germinate.net/mission/equipping-for-rural-mission/

One of the key elements to seeing positive change within a worshipping community, rural and urban, is for us as leaders (clergy and lay) and congregation members to have a passion; for God, prayer, God's word and our fellow human beings to join God's family.

In a recent study in the American Catholic Church, researchers found roughly 6% of the parishioners dedicated 80% of the volunteer hours and 80% of the financial giving to their local parish. The 6% …

lead a prayerful life including involvement in a prayer group

read the Bible regularly to learn more about their faith

are naturally generous in spirit; probably as a by-product of prayer and study

they talk to others about their faith

Whilst this was an American survey covering a different denomination are

there not challenges for us, both individually and as churches to reflect on?

Challenges of

rural ministry

and mission

Dave Champness writes... Ever wondered if your church's name was unique?

Our new Diocesan contact management system is populated with all the key information from all our parishes and powers our fantastic new Directory available via our new-look website www.blackburn.anglican.org

By running a simple search I was able to discover exactly how many of each church name we have.

The most popular name in the Diocese is St John. There are 29 (Baptist, Evangelist and Divine) followed by 18 St James, 17 St Peter, 15 St Mary, 15 Christ Church, 14 St Paul, 12 St Michael and 11 All Saints.

Into single figures we have 9 Holy Trinity, 8 St Anne, 7 St Andrew, 7 St Thomas, 7 St Leonard,

6 St Luke, 5 St Stephen, 5 St Cuthbert, 4 St Wilfrid, 4 St Barnabas, 4 St Bartholomew, 4 St Margaret, 3 The Saviour, 3 St Oswald, 3 St Nicholas, 3 St Helen, 3 St Christopher, 3 St Mark, 2 St Hilda, 2 Immanuel, 2 Ascension, 2 St Ambrose, 2 St Chad, 2 St Catherine, 2 St George, 2 St Aidan, 2 All Hallows and 2 St Lawrence (with a 'w').

So (drum roll) which names are the unique ones? There are nine of them and they are St Silas, St Augustine, St Eadmer, St Gabriel, St Francis, Holy Cross, St Laurence (with a 'u'), St Saviour and Good Shepherd.

What we haven't been able to check yet is if any of the unique names are also unique countrywide. If you think your church can claim that accolade do let us know!

Church name game

St Wilfrid’s Church in Melling - there are four St Wilfrid’s in the Diocese!