A HISTORIC former church is to host a major beer festival on St George’s weekend.

More than 30 ales will be on offer at Holy Trinity Church in Mount Pleasant, Blackburn, on April 22 and 23.

The Grade II-listed gothic structure, built between 1837 and 1846, has been empty for more than 30 years since it closed as a place of worship in 1981.

The festival, with free entrance, is the latest in a series of events designed bring life back to the church.

These have included pop festivals, classical concerts and ‘Carols by Candlelight’.

Jason Walker, secretary of the Holy Trinity Friends Group, said: “We are always looking for events that will enable local people to have a look at this wonderful listed building.

“We have teamed up with James Quayle from the newly-opened Drummers Arms in King William Street, Blackburn, to put on the first Holy Trinity Beer Festival.

“Of course, April 23 is St George’s Day and the festival will celebrate the best of English beers from local breweries like Hopstar in Darwen, Three Bs in Blackburn and the Big Clock in Accrington and from further afield.

“There will be music and food available as well as 30 to 40 beers and entrance will be free.

“On the Saturday it will be open from 11am to 11pm and on the Sunday from noon to 9pm.”

Mr Quayle said: “ We are delighted to be helping bring this church and Blackburn social and nighttime alive again.

“Obviously there is a commercial aspect to this for the Drummers Arms which open in November, but it is really about supporting this historic church, the town and its community.

“We will be providing the bars and equipment fort the event.”

Cllr Phil Riley, chairman of the friends group said: “We have recently received a grant of £8,3000 from the Big Lottery to help them to bring the church alive and to enable local people to appreciate this fine example of the town’s Victorian heritage. “ Holy Trinity is famous for once being the parish of the Rev Chad Varah who founded the Samaritans.

The building, designed by Lancaster architect Edmund Sharpe and considered by may to be his masteriece, has a series of80 hand-painted panels depicting coats of arms in the ceiling.

The church was designated as a heritage Grade II-listed church on 13 May 1987.