2026 is the centenary of The Church of England in Lancashire (Blackburn Diocese)
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Advent and Christmas resources for 2025
All for Jesus: Centenary of Blackburn Diocese in 2026
Centenary Build Up: Parish Mission Preparations
Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day 2025
2026 Diocesan Conference
Diocesan Conferences: Livestream recordings and other resources for ongoing use
God's creation and the environment; news, info, resources to help you engage
Public notices; also information about listed buildings and burial grounds
Weekly Sermon
Resources to support prayer for Ukraine
SUBSCRIBE to our ebulletins, including Parish Update
Black History Resources for parishes and schools
Racial justice including 'From Lament to Action'; information page
Protocols for publicity of events
How some parishes are supporting their communities
Vision 2026
Vision Refresh
Vision Refresh
History, background and Vision Update 2021-24
What is Vision 2026?
Vision Update and Implementation Plan 2021-24
A short history and background of Vision 2026
Vision 2026 Key themes
Making Disciples of Jesus Christ
Being Witnesses to Jesus Christ
Growing Leaders for Jesus Christ
Inspiring Children and Young People
Our Vision Prayer
Vision 2026 Parish Toolkit
Vision Champions Resources
Healthy church assessment tool
Parish Vision Fund
Church growth factors
Generosity Gift and Grace - 5 sessions for use within services
Generosity Gift and Grace Course Materials
Vision 2026 and our focus on discipleship
Strategic Development Funded Projects
Lighting up New Generations
Outer estates ministry
Preston Resourcing Parish
Investment Programme
Background - Initial story of the major new funding award to Diocese
Diocesan Investment Programme
Information on new missional roles in the Diocese
A church that reflects the communities it serves
A parish system revitalised for mission
A transformed leadership pipeline including clergy wellbeing
Fundraising support available
Who can I contact if I have queries in relation to the Diocesan Investment Programme
What we do
Share the Christian faith
Support individuals' faith journeys
Baptisms, weddings and funerals
Transforming Communities - social justice
Support parish activities
Summary of chaplaincy support across the Diocese
Support educational chaplaincy
Support prison chaplaincy
Support hospital and hospice chaplaincy
Interfaith presence and engagement
Be a part of the Anglican Communion
Giving
Joyful Generous Stewards
Donate to diocesan projects
Life Calling
Growing Leaders
The Growing Leaders Team
Vision 2026: Growing Leaders
Opportunities to Explore
What is God's plan for you?
UKME Vocations
Lay Majority Ministry
Lay Majority Ministry Framework
Licensed Lay Ministry
Anna Chaplaincy
Authorised Lay Ministry
M:Power (Lay) leadership training in urban contexts
Church Army
Informal lay ministry
Whole life discipleship
What is whole life discipleship?
Ordination
The Process
About us
Women in Ministry
Women in Ministry: Statement from our new Bishop of Blackburn
Women in Ministry Strategy
Clergy Menopause Policy
Clergy Maternity Leave Policy
Contact us
Bishops and Archdeacons
Bishop's House Team
Diocesan Offices
Meet the Vision and Strategy Team
Being Witnesses
Registry
Reporting a website issue and website legal terms
Meet the Diocesan Office teams
Finance
Diocesan property (clergy houses) and land
Human Resources (HR)
Vision Delivery
Communications Team
Safeguarding
Diocesan Secretary and Vision 2026
Making Disciples Team
Growing Leaders Team
Children, young people and schools (Board of Ed.)
Our deaneries - Blackburn Archdeaconry
Blackburn Archdeaconry Boundary Map
Accrington
Blackburn with Darwen
Burnley
Chorley
Leyland
Pendle
Whalley
Our deaneries - Lancaster Archdeaconry
Lancaster Archdeaconry Boundary Map
Blackpool
Garstang
Kirkham
Lancaster and Morecambe
Poulton
Preston
Tunstall
Our diocesan finances
Parish Share: How it works and what it pays for
Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) budget and accounts; key information
Our wider church family
Whalley Abbey
Link Dioceses - Information and updates
Diocesan Board of Education
Blackburn Cathedral
Cidari Multi-Academy Trust
Churches Together in Lancashire
Blackburn Diocese Mothers' Union
Hope Together
Our governance structures
Overview
General Synod
Diocesan Synod
Diocesan Synod Committees
Deanery synods
Bishop's Council and Directors
Privacy Notice Relating to Clergy Personal Files
Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance/Education Data Privacy Notice and Policies
Safeguarding Privacy Notices
PCR2 Safeguarding Privacy Notice
Our facts and figures
Registry including profile of our Registrar Lisa Moncur
The Church of England
Our history
Resources
Human Resources
Human Resources Toolkit
HR Support for Clergy
Liturgy and church services
Confirmation service
Common Worship service templates
Institution/licensing service templates
New website resource: Sunday Scriptures for Reading Aloud
Baptism Preparation materials
Admission of Sidesmen/women
Creation Care and Net Zero Roadmap
Creation Care Resources
Church buildings and help with reaching Net Zero Carbon
Energy Footprint Tool
Eco Church - recognising your church's care for creation
Creation Care and the Environment
Climate resilience, carbon net zero and energy saving help for parish leaders
For lay ministry
Lay Ministers
Senior clergy talks, articles and sermons
Bishop Philip North
Bishop Jill Duff
Archdeacon Mark Ireland
Archdeacon David Picken
For clergy
Neuro Diversity Resources
Resources to support young peoples' confirmation
Office holder documents
'Say Jesus': Communicating the Gospel Effectively - Curates' training
Important information for clergy
Clergy wellbeing
Ad clerum
Ministerial Development Review (MDR)
CME and sabbaticals
Vicarage grants
Curate training
Self-supporting ministry (SSM)
Marriage law
Retired Clergy
Permission to Officiate (PTO)
Communications resources
Communications resource area - welcome!
Importance of using a communications strategy
Digital Communications resources
Important information about our e-bulletins
Using articles from Parish Update and the Diocesan website in parish communications
Communicating with people not online; includes use of pictures
Using the 'A Church Near You' website
Get your church noticed
Effective digital communications including social media
Filming and photography including asking for consent
Advice on taking good pictures
Copyright guidance for images, music and text
Writing press releases: Guidance and template releases
Simple guide to promoting a church event
Downloadable logos: Diocesan logo; Centenary logo and national CofE logo
Filming and requests to film in churches - general advice
Discipleship, prayer and worship
Making Disciples of Jesus Christ: Overview
Bible study
Blackburn Prayers; Answers to Prayer; Pathways to Prayer and other prayer resources
Retreats
Spiritual Direction
Building a Generous Church
Regular Giving
Online and Contactless Giving
Generosity and Stewardship
Stewardship programmes and resources
Generosity Week
Music and worship
Discipleship App
Seasonal Resources
Parish Finance
Parochial Fees 2026
Parochial Fees 2025
Easy Fundraising
Treasurers' advice
Parish Fundraising
Stewardship Sermons and Liturgy
0% interest Eco-loan
Stewardship and legacies
Gift Aid
Parish administration and governance
Archdeacons' Annual (Deanery) Visitations
General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (GDPR)
PCC secretary or administrator
Parochial Church Council
Glossary of church terms
National Parish resources website
Parish returns
Churchwardens' duties
Church of England portal
Churchwardens' briefings
Welcomers (Sidesmen/women)
Pastoral reorganisation
Vacancy process
Archdeacons' Parish Visitations
Community transformation
Rural Ministry
Cinnamon Network
Acts 435
Street Pastors
Christians Against Poverty
Credit unions
Church Action on Poverty
Emergency response and planning
Being witnesses (parish mission resources)
Being Witnesses
Diocesan Parish Mission Team
Enquirers' courses
New Local Congregations and Fresh expressions (FxC)
Choir Church
Mission to new housing developments
Community Football Outreach
The Equality Act and Disability Access Audit
Disability inclusiveness
Hearing Loss
Physical Disabilities and Wheelchair Access
Sight Loss
Hidden Disabilities
'Lighting the Beacons'; Bishop Jill's book is great resource for parishes
Jesus Shaped People (JSP)
Open Churches toolkit
Bishop's Harvest Appeal 2025
Church buildings, land and legal matters
Listed buildings and burial grounds; Public Notices
Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC)
Faculties and other Permissions for Works to Churches
Advice for Bells, Clocks and Organs
Churchyard regulations (including application form)
Churchyard Safety
Churchyards and Trees
Community Use of Church Buildings
Disability and Accessibility
Flags, military colours; advice for parishes
Grants and Funding
Health and Safety
Insurance
Large Church Reorderings: Help and Advice
Metal and Stone Theft
Quinquennial Inspections and Inspecting Architects and Surveyors
Telecommunications Infrastructure
Parish Vision Fund
Financial Assistance Group (Parish Vision Fund)
Children, Young People and Schools
Safeguarding
INEQE Safeguarding Audit
Welcome
Reporting a safeguarding concern
Diocesan Safeguarding Team
Parish Safeguarding Dashboard and Hubs
Safeguarding Training
Parish Safeguarding guidance
Diocesan/national policies and guidance
Safer Recruitment: DBS
Safeguarding Matters newsletter
PCR2-Updates
PCR2- Resources/ Info
PCR2- FAQs
Quicklinks
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Houghton, The Revd Joe
Mobile: 07734 702768
Email address: joewhoughton@gmail.com
Roles
LEA St Christopher
- Curate
LEA St Christopher
- Curate in Charge