SOME of East Lancashire's top clergy will join councillors and other VIPs for the centenary celebrations of the Bishopric of Burnley tomorrow.

The town's Mayor, Councillor Gordon Birtwistle, will host a civic event at Burnley Town Hall, Manchester Road.

The evening will proceed a meeting of the full council when the Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Rev John Goddard, will open proceedings with special prayers.

The anniversary marks the day the Bishopric of Burnley was created from the Manchester Diocese and founded at the Parish of St Peter in Church Street.

The Bishopric remains the only one to derive from a specific Act of Parliament.

A spokesman for Burnley Borough Council said: "The Manchester Diocese covered a vast area of 600 parishes and decided to create a Bishop of Burnley in order that the Church of England could properly and carefully tend to this area.

"The Bishopric was founded at St Peter's primarily because of the historical importance of the building but also because the parish was relatively affluent at that time."

The celebrations will begin at 6pm and, as well as the Bishop and Mayor, guests expected to attend include the Archdeacon, the Ven John Hawley, vice chairman of the Diocesan Synod Liz Dobey and Rector of Burnley and vicar of St Peter's, Rev Quentin Wilson. The town's Honorary Recorder Judge Raymond Bennett and leader of Burnley Borough Council Stuart Caddy have also been invited.

Coun Birtwistle said: "It is an honour to host this reception. The Bishopric has played a significant part in life in the borough through the last 100 years to this day. Our purpose is to acknowledge and give thanks for its guidance and support."

A spokesman for the authority went on: "Throughout the last 100 years the many bishops have sought to care for the people of this area and have ben deeply involved in the life of the town.

"Their dedication has been recently highlighted with Bishop Goddard's involvement with the Task Force ."