SIMONSTONE resident Canon Mike Chew has been elected as one of The Diocese of Blackburn representatives on the Church of England’s ruling body.

He will join the House of Laity of the General Synod.

Mike, 65, who was born and raised in Blackburn, is the current treasurer at St John’s Church, Read with St Peter’s Church, Simonstone.

He became a lay Canon in 2008 and has extensive experience and knowledge of the Diocese, having previously visited and worked with churches in every deanery.

He has 30 years of business experience both in Lancashire and in Holland and is the co-author of the successful 2009 book ‘How to do Mission Action Planning’.

Mike said: “I want to see the Church of England as a whole grow spiritually and numerically. I am looking forward to being part of a team which will formulate a growth strategy for the church.”