A VICAR has predicted a bleak outlook for struggling Church of England parishes in the Blackburn Deanery.

The Rev Brian Stevenson, of St Silas church, Blackburn, has revealed his agony at attempting to keep his own parish afloat while others "clearly have not got a future".

Writing in his parish magazine, Mr Stevenson says: "While we can thank God for all who have loved and served Him in the past, we now face the challenge to plan ahead for the future, bearing in mind that our's is one of the parishes in Blackburn with a future.

"I say that not with any sense of selfishness but reality, for some parishes clearly have not got a future. "We should always be aware, however, that we are part of the larger Christian family, both in Deanery and Diocese under the Father-in-God, the Bishop.

"The problem currently for us, is to try to be loyal to Bishop and Diocese, bearing in mind the weaker members of the family, and, at the same time, keeping our own 'ship afloat,' again bearing in mind the non-viable parishes, about which something should be done."

There are currently 17 parishes within the Blackburn Deanery, some with more than one church.

But Diocesan Communications Officer Rev Richard Steele said that rather than face decline, the church was committed to maintaining places of worship.

He said: "Non-viable' is the Rev Stevenson's term and not the Church of England's. We are currently opening more centres of worship than we are closing.

"But we realise that some parishes are wealthier than others and are asking them to help with the upkeep of the less well off."

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