WHEN bride Clare Haworth walked down the aisle to marry Chris Hargreaves today, family members could have been forgiven for thinking they'd seen it all before!

The service, held at St Mary and All Saints Church, Goodshaw, was conducted by the Rev Colin Barnes, who married Clare's parents Joyce and Bill, from Haslingden, at the same church on September 2, 1972.

Her grandparents, Joe and Mary Medlin, were also married in the same church on December 4, 1948, but sadly neither are alive to have seen their only granddaughter married.

The organ was played by Clare and Joyce's godmother, Mrs Joan Saunders, who was the soloist at Joyce and Bill's wedding when she sang O Perfect Love, which was also sung by the choir at today's service.

Joan was also a bridesmaid at Clare's grandparents' wedding and the hymn the happy couple chose, O Father All Creating, was sung at her parents' and her grandparents' weddings.

She received her grandmother's wedding ring and Clare gave Chris a wedding ring which is a combination of his parents' wedding rings which have been made into one! His mother Janis died nearly four years ago, but his father Jim, who lives in Helmshore, witnessed the ceremony.

Both Clare and Chris are originally from Rossendale and are former Haslingden High School pupils. They now live in Warrington where Clare teaches French and German at Great Sankey High School, Warrington, and Chris is a baker for Asda, Warrington.

Mr Barnes emigrated to New Zealand for 15 years but returned to Rossendale last July to retire. He is currently helping out at Holy Trinity Church, Stacksteads, and Bacup's St Saviour's Church.

He said: "It was a very special day for me. It is lovely to have been able to marry the mother, baptise the daughter and then conduct her marriage.

"I have never had such an occasion and it was a very special time for all of us."

This evening's reception is at Stirk House, Gisburn, following the wedding breakfast and the couple will honeymoon on Rhodes.

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