A VICAR and his wife today said they are putting their marital problems behind them and getting ready to celebrate Christmas together.

And the Rev Christopher Peter, East Lancashire's first Asian minister, formerly of St Mary's Church, Nelson, said he did not accept he was suspended but had been "given a short break from the church" while family problems are sorted out.

But the Church of England says the vicar of Accrington's St James' and St Andrew's churches has been suspended from his duties.

The family also denies there was a marital breakdown even though the Church of England issued a statement saying the couple had separated.

The news broke at a church nativity service when stunned parishioners were told the vicar was suspended because of family difficulties.

Mr Peter, who lives in Wensley Drive, Accrington, with his wife Avoline and their three children, denied his wife had moved out of the family home and the couple posed for photographs with their children.

He said: "We are planning to have some family time together over Christmas so we can try and resolve our difficulties. I have not been suspended from the church. I have been given a short break so I can spend some time with my family. It will be a very short break and I hope to get back to work as soon as possible."

Mr Peter added: "Like any other family we have our ups and downs. The matter is now resolved and is not as serious as has been portrayed. We have not split up and we never ever thought of that. We never split and we never separated.

"We were together, we are together and we will always be together and we are looking forward as a family to a happy and joyous Christmas."

But a Church spokesman said: "The Rev Peter remains suspended from duty until he and his family have worked this out. It is understood that no one else is involved in the marital problems of the Peters."

Mr Peter was a businessman in the Far East before joining the church. He worked as a vicar in Darwen at St Peter's and St Mary's Church in Nelson.

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