THE Church of England’s premier place of worship in Lancashire is to appoint a £50,000-a-year executive director to run its administration.

When appointed, the business boss of Blackburn Cathedral will earn more than the county’s Bishop.

The decision to seek a high-flyer for the brand new post comes after the Christian complex’s extension with a set of £6million clergy buildings and Cafe Northcote Restaurant.

It also reflects it’s position as the central worship complex of the Church of England in Lancashire and the seat of the county’s Bishop The Rt Rev Julian Henderson who earns £42,780.


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The new executive director taking, home between £45,000 and £50,000 annually, will report to the Cathedral Dean The Very Rev. Peter Howell-Jones, who took over the post in March and who earns £34,980.

He will take charge of all business, financial, commercial, staff, building maintenance and organisational affairs, which has been be done by senior clergy with support.

For a year from April 2016, the Bishop of Burnley the Rt Rev Philp North stood in as Acting Dean of Blackburn.

The new job brings Blackburn in line with other Cathedrals.

He said: “We decided this was the perfect time to make this new full-time appointment. It is about running a much bigger establishment than before.

“It is also about giving the clergy more time to do their job in terms of faith and pastoral work as Blackburn is the Cathedral for all of Lancashire.”

Chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques and Burnley resident, Abdul Hamid Qureshi said: “I think this is a wise appointment at the right time. Blackburn Cathedral is a vital and important institution in the faith community of the whole of Lancashire.

“It has played a pivotal role in bringing faiths together and clearly now needs someone to look after the business side of the operation.”

Closing date for the post will be September 22, with interviews in October.

The Very Rev. Howell-Jones, said: “The successful candidate will work alongside me and my senior colleagues to achieve our aims for the Cathedral and the wider Diocese. It is a large salary but we want the best person to take on this very important role.”