When and where the Bishop of Blackburn will call in on his 14-stop farewell tour of every Deanery in Lancashire including Blackpool, Preston and Chorley

By Nicola Adam
Published 2nd Jun 2022, 04:55 BST
Updated 16th Jun 2022, 08:47 BST
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After more than nine years, the Bishop of Blackburn is preparing to enter the final weeks of his ministry, and waving goodbye with a farewell tour.

The Rt Rev. Julian Henderson is making visits to every 'Deanery area' across the County – 14 of them – for a series of farewell prayer services which are open to everyone.

He will travel to all points on the compass from Pendle Deanery in the East to Blackpool Deanery in the West and from Tunstall Deanery in the north to Chorley Deanery in the south of the region.

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Rt Rev.Julian Henderson, is preparing to enter the final weeks of his ministry as The Church of England’s Diocesan Bishop for the County of Lancashire (June 15,2022)Rt Rev.Julian Henderson, is preparing to enter the final weeks of his ministry as The Church of England’s Diocesan Bishop for the County of Lancashire (June 15,2022)
Rt Rev.Julian Henderson, is preparing to enter the final weeks of his ministry as The Church of England’s Diocesan Bishop for the County of Lancashire (June 15,2022)

There will also be a series of other ‘final events’ for the Bishop coming up, including a variety of meetings and services to attend.

These include the last ordination weekend in early July; two 'primary visitations' to swear in churchwardens across the county, a final week in the House of Lords as one of the ‘Lords Spiritual’ and a last Diocesan Synod meeting on the morning of July 16.

Later on the same day as the Synod meeting, July 16, Bishop Julian’s final farewell service will take place, from 2pm at Blackburn Cathedral.

There will also be a ‘tent week’ at Bishop's House near Ribchester next week at which the Bishop and his wife Heather will have chance to say a proper goodbye to many of the people they have known and worked with over the past nearly-decade in Lancashire.

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Bishop Julian said: “In 2013, I began my time as Bishop with a short prayer visit to each Deanery. I will do the same as I approach my retirement.

“I also plan to affirm my message that we must take the Bible, as the revealed word of God, seriously; ‘useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness’.

"It will be a joy to be able to spend time in each Deanery one more time before I leave and I look forward to seeing as many people as I can from our parishes and the many local communities across Lancashire at each of the services.

"As I travel round this beautiful County which has been home to me and my wife Heather for nearly 10 years, I will be praying for the people who live here. Lancashire will always hold a special place in our hearts."

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