THE Bishop of Blackburn launched celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the Blackburn Diocese with a promise to get back to basics.

The Rt Rev Alan Chesters said the original mission priority of diocese founder William Temple -- which was religion for all -- would be taken forward by thousands of Anglican Christians in the 239 parishes across Lancashire.

And a diocesan programme of service will echo William Temple's priorities of social issues, education and Christian unity.

Preaching to a congregation at Blackburn Cathedral, attended by the country's top religious and civic leaders, Rev Chesters said: "Because William Temple longed to share Christ with others we want to make this a year of renewal in mission in our parishes, learning how to share Christ with others.

"Hopefully in the past 75 years the Diocese of Blackburn has shown, increasingly in partnership with other churches, that Christianity is neither a purely private religion, nor merely a spiritual religion, but concerned with the whole of life.

"Godliness requires a concern for society because that is where men and women live and die and God is committed to the world to further his purposes and share his love."

William Temple created the diocese when he was Bishop of Manchester and it covers 878 square miles and home to more than 1.25 million people. Rev Chesters said Bishop Temple did it out of a concern for pastoral care.

He said: "That pastoral care in William Temple's mind and which, at best, has been the hallmark of the life of this diocese ever since, has never been just for the churchgoer, or for the Anglican but for all who had a need.

"For our founder the light of Christ, the good news in Jesus Christ had to be translated into practical concern for society."

A new diocese had been under discussion for more than 25 years when Bishop Temple reduced the then Diocese of Manchester by 37 per cent to form the new Diocese of Blackburn in 1926.