A MINISTER who pioneered inter-faith services is leaving his Padiham parish for a teaching job in Oxford.

The Rev Dr Andrew Rowley JP has served Nazareth Unitarian Chapel for five years but said today: "It's time to move on, I need a new challenge."

Mr Rowley, 40, spoke with fondness of the time he and his wife Angela and children Faith, 11, and seven-year-old Andrew have lived 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, particularly during my illness."

Two-years-ago Mr Rowley had to take time out from the ministry when he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and needed brain surgery.

At the chapel he has led inter-faith services inviting other religions to come into the church to discuss their beliefs and holding joint services.

He said: "The hope is everything we have put in and started will continue. It is a programme that is attracting people because it is showing them something other that a dogmatic religion that tells them what to think and believe. "It is a quest for open spirituality and we find these meetings with different groups bring lots of new people into the church."

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 in September. 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.

His final service will be on August 29 which will be followed by a lunch prepared by the chapel men.

On September 4 there will be a dowsing workshop by Paul Limb from 10am to 4pm and on November 7 an interfaith service and seminar when Professor Hasan Askari, a leading Muslim thinker and pioneer of inter-religious dialogue.

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