A NEW "union" of Anglican churches in Colne aims to guarantee care and support for the community into the next millennium.

The Bishop of Blackburn gave his blessing to the new team ministry when he licensed five clergy and a Church Army lay worker to lead the new team ministry at a special service in Colne Parish Church.

While each of the church leaders will retain geographical responsibility for their own areas, the 20,000-member "super parish" will allow a much wider pooling of talents and abilities, said the Rev Mike Hartley, who moved to Holy Trinity Church to become rector of the new team.

In the long term the new team will underline the commitment by the church and the clergy in areas which could have become vulnerable to amalgamation. The move unites the town centre parishes of St Bartholomew, Holy Trinity and Christ Church, with the rural parishes of St Mary's, Trawden, and St Michael's, Foulridge.

The move, which was under discussion for two years, came from local clergy eager to work together and support each other, said Mr Hartley. "The parish areas are unique and will remain unique," he added.

Mr Hartley described the development as a brave move by existing clergy, two of whom, Rev Peter Mott and Rev John Priestley, had resigned their security of tenure and gone onto a contract.

"They are saying 'We believe this is the way to go and this is how committed we are to team ministry'. They are effectively putting their futures on the line," he said.

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