THE Pope has bestowed a prestigious honour on a Ribble Valley priest.

The title of Monsignor has been awarded to parish priest John Chaloner of St Hubert’s RC Church, Dunsop Bridge.

A title of distinction, it is given by the Pope, usually at the request of the local bishop, as part of a papal honour recognis-ing the priest’s service.

Monsignor Chaloner was recommended for the award by the Bishop of Oslo, in Norway, for his work as an Associate Judicial Vicar, which mostly involves covering marriage tribunals.

He said: “It is a special honour to receive and I’m very pleased to have been given it by the Pope.

“The parishioners here are also delighted for me.

“I was recommended by the Bishop of Oslo. It usually comes in recognition of service to the church.”

Monsignor Chaloner, who has been at St Hubert’s for the past 16 years, was ordained into the Roman Catholic Church at St Paul’s Basilica in Rome in 1973.

Born in Sheffield, he has also spent time at the marriage tribunal in Salford and found out about the honour in November.

Monsignor Chaloner, who has also written three books, has been an Associate Judicial Vicar in Oslo for around five years, but spends most of the year in his Dunsop Bridge parish.

“Most of the work can be done from home, but I’ve been to Oslo a couple of times and will be going again in March,” he said.

“It is a fantastic place and I really enjoy what I do over there.

“But I love being here (Dunsop Bridge) very much. It is a wonderful place full of wonderful people.”