EAST Lancashire's heritage of 'dissenting' churches and their worshippers will be explored at a meeting this week.

Local expert Hilda Rawcliffe will give a talk on 'The history of non-conformist chapels around Blackburn and area'.

Original records and church books will be available to examine.

Mrs Rawcliffe said: "The North-West of England had some of the earliest non-conformist congregations , often meeting in farm houses and barns . Darwen and Tockholes are particularly strong in early non-conformism, which has a fascinating history."

She will highlight the three Blackburn chapels which became Revidge Fold United Reform Church in 1974: St George's Presbyterian, founded in 1868; Four Lane Ends Congregational dating from 1820 and Mount Street which operated from 1811 to 1910.

Two weeks ago Bygones featured the 200 years of Grindleton's Harrop Fold Chapel.

Mrs Rawcliffe will speak at the Blackburn and Darwen Family History Society at 7.30pm on Thursday at Ewood Working Men’s Club on Bolton Road, Blackburn