Civic carol service will mark 900 year anniversary of Burnley's St Peter's Church

The Mayor of Burnley Coun. Cosima Towneley and her consort, as well as Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham will be attending the service on Sunday December 11th at 4pm.

The service will follow the traditional form of Lessons and Carols and will mark the end of the 900th anniversary celebrations at the historic church on Church Street.

The music for the service will be led by the choir of the parish church under the direction of the organist and choirmaster Mr Philip Tomlinson. The Young People’s Choir will also be taking part in the service.

Speaking on behalf of the church, Mrs Meena Tomlinson, the Lay Chair of the Parochial Church Council, said: “We are honoured once again to welcome the Mayor and her consort and our Member of Parliament to St Peter’s in this important year for our church. The carol service is open to all who wish to attend, and we hope as many people as possible will be able to attend. A warm welcome awaits all who do.”

This year marks 900 years of a church being on the site of the current building, the oldest part of which dates from the 15th Century.

Local historian Roger Frost said: “St Peter’s has played an important part in the history of our town since it was first built. As it was the only public place of worship, St Peter’s was the centre of religious life for the whole of an extensive chapelry almost until the Reformation.”