CHORLEY is taking part in a county-wide inquiry to help draw up a blueprint for the future of the Church of England.

The 250 parishes in the Blackburn Diocese have been asked to list their priorities for the next three years at a series of meetings entitled Facing the Future.

Church members will meet with the Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Reverend Alan Chesters, and be briefed by diocesan experts.

Members from the Chorley deanery will meet at St Michael's High School in the town on Thursday, November 8. The bishop said: "The national church is challenging the Blackburn Diocese through the resources it is providing, but I hope these meetings will provide an equally imaginative and challenging response."

The bishop, who launched the inquiry in Lancaster on Monday, warned the Anglican community in Lancashire in September that the Blackburn Diocese expects to lose almost £700,00 a year from a reallocation of central funding between rich and poor dioceses by Church Commissioners.

Further financial pressure is expected from a review of clergy pensions which could add five per cent to the diocesan budget.

Graeme Pollard, diocesan resources officer, who will be among the speakers at Facing the Future meetings, said: "We need to stop being afraid to talk about money, although our agenda for Facing the Future is far wider than this.

"But we also have to be realistic. Money is a major part of our lives and part of our faith."

Parishes are asked to make their responses by Ash Wednesday, February 13, next year.