THE BISHOPS of Blackburn and Burnley have backed proposals for the Church of England to have closer links with the Methodist Church.
The Rt Rev Alan Chesters and the Rt Rev John Goddard supported the proposals after a historic debate at the Blackburn Diocesan Synod, at St Thomas' Church, in Barrowford.
The push for closer ties could eventually result in the reunification of the two churches.
Clergy delegates voted two to one and lay delegates three to one in favour of commitments "to work to overcome the remaining obstacles to the organic unity of our two churches."
The Rev Simon Bessant, diocesan director of mission, said closer unity between the two churches was an important beginning."
Earlier attempts to bring the two churches closer had failed in 1972 and 1982.
The positive vote from the Blackburn Synod will be sent to the General Synod of the Church of England as the two national churches test local opinion on proposals for greater unity.
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