Blackburn Diocese aid Sri Lanka

Sue Witts and Lisa Fenton from Rossendale Methodist Church with Joe

Shall we start in Crawshawbooth? I was in the east Lancashire village on Friday to have a look around Rakefoot Chapel.

The chapel is a former school room which is now used both for worship and as a community centre. The future is looking a bit bleak for this traditional building in York Street and Shirley Suthers from the Rossendale Methodist Church told me they are anxious to get some very important building renovations done before the winter arrives. If they don't, the chapel could close and a vital resource would be lost to Crawshawbooth.

They need skilled people like builders and plumbers, but also people adept at form filling and finding their way around lottery grant applications. If you can help, Shirley would love to hear from you on 01706-228234 or at [e-mail]

According to Coronation Street, Les Battersby is still touring the world with Status Quo. To me Corrie is real, so you can imagined how shocked I was to find that the man who plays the scurrilous Les, actor Bruce Jones, has just spent ten days living as a homeless person.

Rakefoot Chapel is a former school room in York Street

He was doing it for a forthcoming BBC television programme and listening to his account of eking out an existence from the London pavements and from the people who walk on them was compelling. Bruce talked to my colleague Ted Robbins and it was a memorable interview.

On a similar theme, a group of Lancashire youngsters have completed a 36 hour stint living in conditions like those experienced by people in the developing world. Slum Survivor is part of a national initiative organised to bring to attention aspects of social justice. They slept in tents on the edge of the Big Day Out held at a school in Lytham. The youngsters weren't too impressed with the experience, and when I spoke to them they were heartily sick of curry for breakfast and a lack of chocolate.

The Blackburn Diocese is always eager to help those in the developing world and they needs more practical goods to help to strengthen their links with schools in Sri Lanka.

Social justice

The Diocese is seen by some Christian communities in the far east as being a benchmark in faith education and the diocese wants to develop their work amongst schools in Hong Kong and impoverished areas of Sri Lanka. We spoke to Sue Witts and Lisa Fenton who will soon be returning to Sri Lanka.

We also heard from Christian activists in Lancashire who are supporting a campaign to stop businesses legally avoiding tax demands. They say the less tax we pay, the less chance there is of social justice and overseas assistance for those who need it most.

Joe with The Right Reverend John Goddard

Blackburn Diocese also says there's been an enormous interest in loaning Christian books to help young people in Lancashire learn more about the faith. It was decided to tour the diocese inviting churches and schools to take advantage of the 3000 books that were lying idle and gathering dust in the southern area of the cathedral. It's Debbie Johnson's job to make sure as many people as possible take up the diocese's offer and she is just setting off on her second tour of the county!

With the new football fixtures out this week footie fans like me have been planning for the next campaign. No more so than supporters of the newly promoted Burnley! The Bishop of Burnley says it's vital the town gives off the right image to those who will see it for the first time because of the forthcoming premier league matches.

The Right Reverend John Goddard told us faith communities have their role in ensuring that the rest of the country, and those watching on television around the world, are given the right impression about life in the east Lancashire town.

In honesty, Burnley fans won't be alone in offering up a few prayers for success in the coming season.

Joe Wilson