THE Archbishop of Canterbury is to pay his first official visit to Bolton as part of the celebrations to honour a leading local clergyman.

It is the first time in living memory that an Archbishop of Canterbury has taken part in a service in the Bolton area but on October 21 he and his wife, Eileen will be special guests at Trinity Parish Church, Horwich.

The occasion is a tribute to 78-year-old Canon Colin Craston who celebrates the 50th anniversary of his ordination this month.

He has known the archbishop for many years, serving as chairman of the Anglican Consultative Council until 1996 and as a member of the General Synod.

Retired

And eight years ago, shortly before he retired as area dean and vicar of St Paul with Emmanuel and moved to Horwich, the Archbishop conducted Canon Craston's wedding to fellow clergy worker Brenda Fullalove at Lambeth Palace.

Mrs Craston masterminded the archbishop's visit to Horwich without her husband knowing.

"My wife was in consultation with Mrs Carey by e-mail and I have never got used to this computer business so I didn't find out," said Canon Craston.

Mrs Craston, together with the new team rector of Horwich and Rivington, the Rev Stephen Fletcher finally told Canon Craston about the honour last month.

"It knocked the stuffing out of me. I was pleased but staggered," he said. "The archbishop's job is more demanding than anyone realises so I would never have asked him myself.

"It is amazing that he has got a Sunday morning free.

"This is typical of the Careys. They are the kindest people possible."

Hundreds of people from the five churches in the benefice are expected to attend the service, which starts at 11am.

Canon Craston's son is flying over from his home in Germany to be there and his daughter is travelling from her home in Sheffield with her family.

Canon Craston was ordained on September 30, 1951 in Durham and served as a curate at a church in the city for two years before moving to Bolton.

He had only intended staying five years but never left.

"It has been a well packed 50 years. I don't regret any of it," he said.

The year has been full of memories for Canon Craston.

He and his wife recently made a trip to Durham to visit his old parish and next month they are making a nostalgic journey to the Greek island of Leros.

During the Second World War Canon Crason served on the destroyer HMS Eclipse escorting convoys.

In 1943 his captain decided he should try for a commission and put him ashore. Shortly afterwards the ship was sunk off the coast of Leros and all his friends and colleagues were killed. Ironically, Canon Craston was turned down for a commission.

"They said I didn't have enough ambition," he recalled.

Next month will be the first time he has visited Leros and he and his wife intend taking a boat trip to the spot where the ship went down and paying their respects at the local war cemetery. THE Archbishop of Canterbury is to pay his first official visit to Bolton as part of the celebrations to honour a leading local clergyman.

It is the first time in living memory that an Archbishop of Canterbury has taken part in a service in the Bolton area. On October 21 he and his wife, Eileen will be special guests at Trinity Parish Church, Horwich.

The occasion is a tribute to 78-year-old Canon Colin Craston who celebrates the 50th anniversary of his ordination this month.

He has known the archbishop for many years, serving as chairman of the Anglican Consultative Council until 1996 and as a member of the General Synod.

Retired

And eight years ago, shortly before he retired as area dean and vicar of St Paul with Emmanuel and moved to Horwich, the Archbishop conducted Canon Craston's wedding to fellow clergy worker Brenda Fullalove at Lambeth Palace.

Mrs Craston masterminded the archbishop's visit to Horwich without her husband knowing.

"My wife was in consultation with Mrs Carey by e-mail and I have never got used to this computer business so I didn't find out," said Canon Craston.

Mrs Craston, together with the new team rector of Horwich and Rivington, the Rev Stephen Fletcher finally told Canon Craston about the honour last month.

"It knocked the stuffing out of me. I was pleased but staggered," he said. "The archbishop's job is more demanding than anyone realises so I would never have asked him myself.

"It is amazing that he has got a Sunday morning free.

"This is typical of the Careys. They are the kindest people possible."

Hundreds of people from the five churches in the benefice are expected to attend the service, which starts at 11am.

Canon Craston's son is flying over from his home in Germany and his daughter is travelling from her home in Sheffield with her family.

Canon Craston, whose first wife died nine years ago, was ordained on September 30, 1951 in Durham and served as a curate at a church in the city for two years before moving to Bolton.

He had only intended staying five years but never left.

"It has been a well packed 50 years. I don't regret any of it," he said.

The year has been full of memories for Canon Craston.

He and his wife recently made a trip to Durham to visit his old parish and next month they are making a nostalgic journey to the Greek island of Leros.

During the Second World War Canon Crason served on the destroyer HMS Eclipse escorting convoys.

In 1943 his captain decided he should try for a commission and put him ashore. Shortly afterwards the ship was sunk off the coast of Leros and all his friends and colleagues were killed. Ironically, Canon Craston was turned down for a commission.

"They said I didn't have enough ambition," he recalled.

Next month will be the first time he has visited Leros and he and his wife intend taking a boat trip to the spot where the ship went down and paying their respects at the local war cemetery.