Diocese celebrates 100 years with seaside party

A Lancashire diocese is marking 100 years with a free open-air party with activities, games, food and music.

Blackburn Diocese will be hosting a fun-day, inviting people of all ages to a 'Big Day Out' together in the centre of Blackpool - complete with family fun zones, a picnic, live music and comedy, as well as a celebration service on St John's Square to round off the day.

The diocese is a regional division of the Church of England, often referred to as the Church of England in Lancashire, and supports about 235 parishes, covering most of the county.

Founded in 1926 by the then-Bishop of Manchester, William Temple, the aim was to emphasise Christian pastoral support for the expanding cotton towns.

Today, the diocese's parishes include many members of other world faiths.

"The Blackburn Diocese is a special diocese, because Lancashire is a special county, where relationships between people are good, where there's a lot of joy and a lot of celebration, a lot of laughter," the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Philip North said.

"This weekend will be a chance to look back and celebrate a 100 years of faithful, loving service of our communities across Lancashire."

"We hope that lots of people just in the town that day will also come and join in," Bishop Philip added.

"We're having lots of activities for children and young people, an outdoor meal and a big service in which we will worship, celebrate and rejoice in being together."

Here's all you need to know about the day's celebrations.

The event will be spread across several Blackpool locations on Church Street - from St John's church, to St John's Church of England Primary School - with a main stage in St John's Square.

11:00 to 13:00

The day's celebrations will begin at 11:00 BST - with a Family Zone opening inside St John's church, on Church Street:

• Complete with activities, a pre-school creche, crafts, inflatables and worship - pre-school and primary aged children will be able to attend from 11:00 until 13:00, so long as they are accompanied by an adult.

For older children a Youth Zone will be opened inside St John's Church of England Primary School - also on Church Street:

• Event organisers have said there will be games, food and fun suitable for children from Year Seven to Year 11.

• Parents are able to drop and collect their children from the youth zone - but attendees will need to register ahead of time via the Blackburn Anglican event page website.

13:00 to 15:00

• Event organisers have said the Main Stage in St John's Square will host live music on the big stage and live comedy from Andy Kind - weather permitting.

• Guests are invited to picnic in St John's Square, where hot and cold drinks will be sold.

• The day will conclude with an afternoon worship celebration service in the square from 14:00 to 15:00 which will be open to all, with no booking required.

• The worship service will be complete with faith stories from across the region, tunes from the the Salvation Army Band and Blackpool Church worship team - and a message from Bishop Philip.

• Event organisers have said free parking, for up to three hours, will be available at Sainsburys on Talbot Road.

• They said for longer stays, attendees can pay to park at Talbot Road Multi-Storey or Houndshill Shopping Centre - both of which are a 10 minute walk from the event.

• For those taking public transport, the nearest train station is Blackpool North - and is around a seven minute walk from the venues.

• For those travelling by bus or tram - Blackpool town centre is the closest stop to the event
• And for those using privately booked coach services - event organisers advise driver to drop off passengers in St John's Square.

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