A NEW ecumenical officer for Churches Together in Lancashire (CTL) has been appointed.

Mrs Terry Garley succeeds the late Rev Donald Parsons, who died last year, and will take up her post on August 1.

John Hudson, chairman of CTL, said: "We are delighted about Mrs Garley's appointment. She brings a deep commitment to, and considerable experience of, the ecumenical movement. We look forward to her joining us and building on Donald Parson's achievements."

Mrs Garley, who used to teach modern languages, comes to Lancashire after working as the ecumenical officer for Churches Together in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire for the past ten years. While living in Derbyshire, she has been attending an Anglican village church in West Hallam, where she serves on the church council and acts as consultant to the ecumenical steering group. The church shares a covenant with Methodists.

Mrs Garley's husband, Colin, is a Methodist preacher and a senior steward for his local Methodist circuit.

Mrs Garley will be based at Centre Peace in Blackburn. After working from home for ten years, she is looking forward to working alongside CTL colleagues who will also be based there.

She said she was the first person to hold her present post in Derbyshire, and added: "Lancashire is a few years further down the road as far as Churches Together are concerned. It will be good to build on the foundations already laid down in Lancashire by a couple of predecessors.

"As we enter the 21st century there are many challenges facing the churches. At the same time we have responsibilities to work for just a society, at home and world-wide."