Celebration of lay ministry across Lancashire at Cathedral commissioning service

More than 60 men and women from across Lancashire came to Blackburn Cathedral at the weekend to be commissioned as 'Authorised Lay Ministers' (ALMs) to serve in parishes across the County.

- By Ronnie Semley Contributor

The celebration was led by Rt Rev Dr Jill Duff, the Anglican Bishop of Lancaster.

Bishop Jill was joined for the service by Rt Rev Philip North, Bishop of Blackburn; Rt Rev Dr Joe Kennedy, Bishop of Burnley; The Venerable David Picken, Archdeacon of Lancaster; Rev Andrew Horsfall, Acting Dean of Blackburn and Rev Anne Beverley, Diocesan Director of Ministry.

The new Diocesan Warden of Lay Ministry, Christy Sawyer, was also commissioned into that role during the same service.

Authorised Lay Ministry is one of the 'pathways' for lay ministry and it was introduced in 2021 across the Diocese.