|TOP|The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, has welcomed a Liverpool vicar as the new Anglican Bishop of Lancaster.

Bishop Reade said he was delighted to welcome Canon Geoff Pearson, 55, to his new ministry as the Bishop of Lancaster.

Pearson, the pioneer of “Kidz Clubs” in the mainstream churches, returns to Lancashire where he previously served as a vicar in the Blackburn area during the 1970s and 1980s.

"Geoff obviously knows our county and culture from his years in Blackburn and it is good to welcome the Pearsons back," said the Bishop of Blackburn.

|AD|"His varied experiences include national work in mission in the Church of England, and working alongside partner churches in a national role.

"He knows the church from its gritty local involvement to its international perspectives, and his appointment is a great encouragement to us all."

Canon Pearson is married to Jean, a Reader and part-time chaplain, and has three grown-up children.

He was previously was Curate-in-Charge before going on to be the Vicar of The Redeemer parish in the Shadsworth area of Blackburn between 1977 and 1985.

Canon Pearson leaves his current position as Area Dean of Huyton and Vicar of St Bartholomew Roby in Liverpool where he has been since 1989 and is expected to be consecrated on the 1st November.