The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev. Julian Henderson, is going on a final farewell tour of local parishes before he retires.

He is also making visits to 14 Deanery areas for a series of farewell prayer services which are open to everyone. 

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.

In addition, there will 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.

He 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. This will be to give thanks to God for the blessings He has bestowed in the last nine years and to look to Him afresh for what lies ahead. 

“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."

During his tenure as the ninth Bishop of Blackburn, Bishop Julian has overseen a  transformative programme to reposition the work of the Diocese. Most notably and prayerfully in 2015/2016, he led the launch of a new strategic approach to our work entitled ‘Vision 2026, Healthy Churches Transforming Communities’. 

The Bishop  visited Slyne with Hest St Luke’s and St Thomas', Lancaster this week.

The forthcoming services are:

5 July 
1pm: Service at Leyland St James'  
3pm: Service in Chorley St Laurence
5.30pm: Service at Blackburn Cathedral

7 July: 
10.30am: Service in Accrington St Andrew 
12.30pm: Service St Cuthbert’s, Burnley
2.30pm: Service in St Anne’s, Fence
4pm: Service in West Pendleside

13 July
9.30am: Service in St Stephen’s Church, Preston
11am: Service in Wesham Christ Church
12.30pm: Service in St Mark's Layton
2.30pm: Service at St John’s Little Thornton.
4pm: Service in St Helen or St Michael’s on Wyre (TBC)