THE Bishop of Blackburn called on a Nelson parish to become a beacon of hope against racial prejudice as he installed the diocesan community relations adviser as its new vicar.

The Rt Rev Alan Chesters told the congregation at St Bede's, Nelson: "We all surely accept that life would be better if racial prejudices and bigotry had no part in it.

"It is one of the barriers that Christians just have to work to bring down."

The Bishop was speaking last night at the official installing of Father Gary Humphryes as Vicar of St Bede's.

Mr Humphryes was previously curate at the neighbouring parish of St Paul's before being appointed as Blackburn Diocese's first community relations adviser, co-ordinating the Church's race relations work across East Lancashire.

"Tonight, with Father Gary's collation, St Bede's becomes a key player in this pioneering, challenging work, work which will see setbacks but which must steadily go forward," added the Bishop.

"We must never judge by a person's outward appearance but offer the love of God to build communities wherever and with whoever they are."

The Bishop called on St Bede's to become "a beacon parish, not resting on its laurels but setting standards for Christian love in action which will set this part of Nelson on fire for God."

He added: "The Church in Nelson struggles to present the Gospel in a town where the roots of many people lie in the Indian subcontinent and the Moslem faith.

"We are called to be a reconciling force for good and I rejoice in the efforts and the progress made here in the last few years."

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