MORE than 1000 people gathered in Blackpool last weekend for “The Big Day Out”: the first in a series of events held as part of the diocese of Blackburn’s centenary celebrations.

“In all the laughter, fun, and conversations, in the acts of welcome, and in the worship, there has been a real sense of God’s presence among us as we collectively marked 100 years of our diocese,” the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Revd Philip North said.

“As we look to the future, my prayer is that this day will be deeply significant and encourage us to go on sharing that same hope with confidence — knowing that the love of Jesus Christ is for every person and every community in Lancashire.”

The day culminated in open-air worship in St John’s Square, led by the Bishop of Lancaster, Dr Jill Duff, and the Revd Andy Dykes, Vicar of St John’s, Blackpool, a resource church in the HTB network and part of the diocese’s £3.5-million “Lighting Up New Generations” project. The church also hosted a “family zone”. Testimonies were given by three people from across Lancashire.

The diocese was carved out of the diocese of Manchester in the early 20th century to reflect the growing population and industrial communities of Lancashire.