CHURCH attendance figures may be falling across the country but the Bishop of Blackburn has sent out a defiant message that the Christian faith in the Diocese is alive and kicking. The Right Reverend Alan Chesters, left, points to the fact that last year Blackburn had the second highest number of confirmations in the country with 2,223 - only 16 behind Oxford.

And with news that 15 sponsored candidates from Blackburn have been recommended for training for the Church of England clergy this year, the Bishop insists the figures are not a true reflection of the strength of the church in the Diocese.

His remarks follow results of a national survey that reveal attendances are falling - with non-church goers in Blackburn up to 88 per cent and 87 per cent in Hyndburn. The national average is 89 per cent.

The Bishop said: "While we acknowledge the results of this survey we have to remember that these are overall figures across the Church of England in general.

"In Blackburn, where last year we had the second highest number of confirmations in the Church of England, we are seeing many areas of positive growth and there is a feeling of encouragement for the future." However, the Bishop acknowledges that new and imaginative approaches have to be made to attract more people back to church - especially from the younger generation.

A less formal form of worship is Unbelievable, a popular monthly service held at Blackburn Cathedral for the over 18s which hopes to attract more people into church life.

Another example of the need to produce new 'creative guidelines' were unveiled by the Bishop to the Diocesan Synod at St Wilfred's High School, Blackburn on Saturday.

He said that following the death of Princess Diana the church will face increasing demands for bereaved people to draft funeral services.

He said: "Christian congregations should welcome non-church families and help them put their thoughts into appropriate words. I want Blackburn to be one of the first dioceses in the Church of England to produce new creative guidelines to help people mourn."

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