The Rev Dale Barton, County Inter Faith Development Officer, Ewood, Blackburn

Places of worship employ at least 95 people

HE IS dead they say. Yet three-fifths of the people of Blackburn and Darwen claim to look to Him for inspiration in their lives.

And an additional one-fifth of the population hold Him in the highest respect.

The 2001 Census asked a question on religion. It was the first UK census to do this for one hundred and fifty years. The 1851 Census was the last one to do so.

I have been amazed by the results. In Blackburn and Darwen over three-fifths said they were Christians, and one fifth belonged to Islam which is the cousin religion of Christianity. Buddhists, Hindus, Jews and Sikhs also all have significant numbers in town. Much less than one-fifth of the people said they had no religion, or exercised their right not to answer the question.

Blackburn once had a Jewish community. I have seen their scroll of God's law. It is in a synagogue on the Fylde.

But it was a surprise to find that at the beginning of the 21st Century that 53 people in Blackburn list their religious identity as Jewish. I am glad. Jews are Christians' ancestors in faith in God.

Perhaps I should not have been surprised by the Census of 2001. In Blackburn town centre there are seven places of Christian worship. These places of worship employ between them at least 95 people to my limited knowledge.

With volunteers and paid staff they are engaged in drugs rehab, provision of furniture, child care, family support, education, care of the elderly and shelter of the homeless.

Jesus Christ is still making waves.