A PROUD mum had the best view in the church when she witnessed her daughter's wedding -- she carried out the service!

The Rev Joan Brown, from Feniscowles Methodist Church, Blackburn, said she felt honoured to have been able to officiate at the wedding of her daughter Virginia, 31, to Ayr-born Johnny Bell, 25, at her church on Saturday.

And it won't be too long until Joan is back in church for another wedding close to her heart -- her own.

Joan said: "When my other daughter married I wasn't a minister but ever since I have been a minister I have known that doing this would be a possibility.

"I think it has been one of the happiest days of my life."

Joan is set to return to the altar on March 10, this time with John Verity, the man who is set to become her second husband.

Virginia's father died while the family were living in Bournemouth.

Joan added: "We considered a double wedding but in the end we decided it would be too much to ask me to be bride, bride's mother and minister at the same time.

"It was wonderful marrying my daughter to her husband.

"And being the minister meant I didn't have to wear a hat either!

"Seriously though, it is a great privilege for me to officiate at the ceremony and something I have been looking forward to very much."

Feniscowles Parish Church is set to be the venue for Joan's wedding, with a minister from the Blackburn circuit performing the ceremony.

Picture: Bride Virginia with mum the Rev Joan Brown and new husband Johnny