Diocese of Blackburn

The diocese of Blackburn is diocese of the Church of England in North West England. Its boundaries correspond to northern Lancashire with the exception of the eastern part of the Forest of Bowland, which is part of the diocese of Leeds. The diocese contains 211 parishes and 280 churches. Blackburn Cathedral is the seat of the bishop of Blackburn, currently Philip North, and the diocesan offices are also located in Blackburn. What is now the diocese of Blackburn was historically part of the diocese of York. It became part of the newly created diocese of Chester in 1541, and part of the diocese of Manchester when it was created in 1847. The diocese of Blackburn was in turn established on 12 November 1926 from the northern part of Manchester.

Bishops

Alongside the diocesan Bishop of Blackburn (Philip North), the diocese has two suffragan bishops: Jill Duff, Bishop suffragan of Lancaster, consecrated in 2018; and Joe Kennedy, Bishop suffragan of Burnley, consecrated 2024. There is no alternative episcopal oversight (for parishes in the diocese which reject the ministry of priests who are women) in the diocese because the ordinary (Philip North) does not ordain women as priests.

Archdeaconries and deaneries

Churches within the diocese

Deanery of Accrington

Area Dean: the Revd Canon David Arnold

Deanery of Blackburn and Darwen

Area Dean: the Revd Canon Andrew Horsfall

Deanery of Burnley

Area Dean: the Revd Munawar Din

Deanery of Chorley

Area Dean: the Revd Neil Kelley

Deanery of Leyland

Area Dean: the Revd Marc Wolverson

Deanery of Pendle

Area Dean: the Revd Lesley Hinchcliffe

Deanery of Whalley

Area Dean: the Revd Jonathan Carmylie

Deanery of Blackpool

Area Dean: the Revd Peter Lillicrap

Deanery of Garstang

Area Dean: the Revd Andrew Wilkinson

Deanery of Kirkham

Area Dean: the Revd Anne Beverley

Deanery of Lancaster and Morecambe

Area Dean: vacant

Deanery of Poulton

Area Dean: the Revd Jane Atkinson

Deanery of Preston

Area Dean: the Revd David Hanson

Deanery of Tunstall