THREE people have been officially recognised as preachers.

Central United Reformed Church, Darwen, was packed when the Darwen Churches Partnership recognised the three preachers as being fully accredited.

Kathryn Bradshaw, of the New Methodist Church and Doreen Goodship of the Central United Reformed Church were each admitted to the office and ministry of local preacher in the Methodist Church and commissioned as nationally accredited lay preachers in the United Reformed Church.

At the same service, Simon Huggill, of Spring Vale Methodist Church, was readmitted into the office and ministry of local preacher.

The service was conducted by the Rev Terry Young, methodist superintendent minister, and the preacher was the Rev Geoff Tolley, former URC minister in the Darwen Churches Partnership.

Other partnership ministers taking part were Canon Dick Cartmell, vicar of St James, Lower Darwen; the Rev John Faraday, vicar of St James, Over Darwen; and URC ministers the Rev Tamas Sugar and the Rev Dr Chris Tonge.

The Rev Geoff Townsend, president of the North-East Lancashire United Reformed district, presented the URC accreditation certificates to Kathryn and Doreen.