PRISON chaplain Richard Marshall had a real baptism of fire when he started work at HMP Manchester.

For Mr Marshall -- who is about to take over as priest-in-charge of two parishes in Blackburn -- had to inform a murderer about the death of a relative.

Undeterred, he stayed on at the jail for nearly four years.

But the 38-year-old will get a break from prison food and lights-out when he becomes head of St Bartholomew's, Ewood, and neighbouring Blackburn the Saviour, in July.

The two parishes are to be combined with Mr Marshall in charge and the work he is set to take up will be worlds apart from his previous post.

Talking of his time at the notorious prison -- better known as its former name, Strangeways -- he said: "The first person I spoke to was a convicted murderer to tell him that his uncle had died. He had been brought up by the uncle and it was almost a parental relationship. Occasionally I was going round bumping into people I had seen in the newspapers or on the television the night before."

Mr Marshall lives in Crumpsall and started working at HMP Manchester, famous for its riots in the '90s, after he served on a week-long mission at Belmarsh Prison.

Before starting work he was given special training in security and personal protection. He said: People are probably more open to chaplains at a time of their lives when they are spending time at Her Majesty's pleasure!"

But when he moves to Blackburn he will be arriving in the middle of a massive shake-up, with Blackburn the Saviour set for demolition and a £300,000 rebuild.

St Bartholomew's School, in Bolton Road, is also due to amalgamate with a second school and open on a completely new site.

But the former teacher and qualified sailing instructor is looking forward to the move. He said: "They are very forward-looking parishes.

"They do a lot of work with young people and I have got a background in teaching."

Canon Michael Wedgeworth, diocesan secretary, said work would begin soon to demolish St Saviour soon.

He said: "Worship has now ceased in that church. They're worshipping in the hall nearby. The church is about to be demolished and a new church built on the site."