THE future home of six Ribble Valley Anglican parishes is hanging in the balance due to a row over Church of England reorganisation in Yorkshire.

Blackburn Diocese unanim- ously voted ‘yes’ at the April synod meeting to accept the parishes of Hurst Green; Mitton; Waddington; Grind-leton; Bolton by Bowland, and Gisburn within its boundaries.

It is otherwise unaffected by the plans to reorganise the church structure in Yorkshire.

Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu’s plans to merge the three Yorkshire dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds, and Wakefield into a single body are now on hold because the Wakefield synod voted against them.

This means that the whole reorganisation plan will have to be put to the General Synod, the Church of England’s national ‘Parliament’, in July.

The need for a further debate on the Dioceses Commission Draft Reorganisation Scheme for the Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds, and Wakefield means the cluster of six parishes currently in Bradford Diocese, which may join Blackburn Diocese, will have to wait to hear the outcome of the further deliberations to know their fate.

Dr Sentamu said: “Having listened carefully to all the submissions made during the consultation process, I know that there are strong views about how we take forward this diocesan reorg-anisation.

“However, it is clear that what must be at the centre is our mission to best serve people’s need wherever they live.

“I have written to the Chair of the Dioceses Commission authorising him to lay the draft scheme before the General Synod.

“The General Synod will now have the opportunity to debate and decide whether these proposals should be progressed.

“It does not follow from my decision to refer this matter that the draft scheme will be approved – what it does mean is that rather than the process coming to an end, the General Synod will be able to form its own view, and hear and assess the arguments that will no doubt be put to it from a range of perspectives.”