IN reply to Arthur Finch (Letters, July 9) who was upset about your account of the congregation of the old St Barnabas' Church in Blackburn, the church records show quite clearly that only a few people were left in an old decaying church.

It was only through the encouragement and vision of the Rev Herrick Daniel that, through his obedience to God, there is now a new church serving the whole community in a warm, caring and committed way.

I think it is wrong to try and discredit a church which is doing its best in a needy areas and which is on Mr Finch's doorstep.

I also to express my sheer joy on your excellent coverage of the Rev Daniels becoming a canon (LET, July 1).

May all your thousands of readers know that, in his obedience to God, he has transformed a supermarket into a super church filled with activities serving the whole community.

Regardless of anybody's misunderstandings, he has given years of unending hard work, with total love and unselfish commitment and he truly does deserve this appropriate title.

DINO CHRISTODOULOU, Yates Fold, Rockcliffe Street, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.