A MINISTER who welcomed all faiths and sections of the community to his church bade farewell to parishioners at his final service.

The Rev Dr Andrew Rowley pioneered inter-faith gatherings in his five years at Padiham's Nazareth Unitarian Chapel.

Now he and wife Angela and children Faith, 11, and seven-year-old Andrew are moving to Oxford where Mr Rowley is taking a teaching post.

He said: "It's time to move on, I need a new challenge."

Mr Rowley, 40, spoke with fondness his time in Lancashire.

He said: "When we moved in we had never experienced this part of England before and we found it wonderful and people were so friendly. We are sorry to be leaving and will miss the area.

"I would like to thank the people of Padiham and the surrounding areas. They have been tremendous to us."

Mr Rowley and his wife lived in Oxford for three years while he was training and both their families come from London.

He will being teaching religious education in a secondary school in the university city.

Mr Rowley will remain on the Unitarian roll so he can return to the ministry any time. He has been a magistrate for a year and will transfer to the Oxford courts.

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