Author Archives: Vicar

Nothing to hide, nothing to fear?

The fiasco over using algorithms rather than people to determine exam results has made the  future prospects of thousands of young people more uncertain. This is but one example of the  growing reach of the digital revolution, where big tech companies know more and more about us and where decisions that affect all of our…

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Sunday Worship, Eleventh Sunday after Trinity – Mattins

This week’s online Sunday service will be taken from the Book of Common Prayer, the original Church of England service book of 1662. Morning Prayer, sometimes called Mattins, will begin at 9 o’clock and can be watched anytime afterwards. Rev Fergus Butler-Gallie’s sermon will reflect on how we are never alone and that God walks…

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You may have heard about the Government announcement today. It lightens COVID restrictions in certain parts of East Lancashire but introduces tighter restrictions in a number of wards in Pendle and Blackburn with Darwen council areas. The parishes of Blackburn with Darwen in the impacted wards are as follows:

  • Blackburn Cathedral
  • St Stephen’s Little Harwood
  • St James’s, Blackburn
  • St Silas, Blackburn
  • St Gabriel’s, Blackburn
  • Christ Church with St Matthew, Blackburn
  • St Luke’s and St Philip’s, Blackburn
  • St Michael and All Angels with St John and Holy Trinity, Blackburn
  • St Jude with St Thomas, Blackburn

St. Oswald’s parish is therefore not affected although neighbouring St. Jude’s is. Please note the following important points which apply to the above parishes only:

  • There is no requirement to close churches or cease public worship. We will keep you updated immediately should this change. However currently the restrictions are around social engagements, a category that obviously does not include the worship of the Church.
  • The number who may attend ‘life events’ (baptisms, weddings and funerals) has now been reduced to 20 in these parishes. This takes effect from Midnight on Saturday evening. 

The situation remains serious in certain parts of the communities we serve in East Lancashire.

We pray that these new measures are properly observed and bring infection rates under control.

Rev’d John Reeves RIP

The news has been announced of the death of Rev’d John Reeves, a former vicar of St Oswald’s. John was a diligent and prayerful priest who was loved by many people. He wrote two church and parish histories; one here at St Oswald’s and another at St Augustine’s Huncoat, where he was previously Vicar. Please…

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Living a Christian life

Gospel Reading – Matthew 14:22-33 At Baptism we commit children (and adults commit themselves) to living the Christian life. Today’s gospel reading is a good reminder of some of the things that the Christian life involves The gospel begins with a reminder of what has gone before – the miraculous feeding of the 5000 the…

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