THE Bishop of Burnley will walk across Lancashire from east to west on Friday to raise money towards the reopening of a redundant church hall as a community hub.

The Rt Rev. Philip North will trek from St Bartholomew’s Church, Chipping, in the Forest of Bowland to walk 33 miles to the Freedom Church on the Mereside Estate in Blackpool.

The walk will raise cash towards the refurbishment of the ex-St Wilfrid’s Parish Hall on Langdale Road in Blackpool.

This will enable it to be re-opened as ‘The Freedom Centre’ serving the residents of Mereside Estate.

The Rt Rev North will begin with an early morning mass at Chipping St Bartholomew’s and end with a ‘chip butty’ celebration on the Fylde Coast.

The two parishes have built a mutual friendship over time.

The Bishop’s route from Chipping to Mereside will take in churches in Longridge, Grimsargh, Goosnargh, Broughton, Woodplumpton, Treales, Kirkham, Wesham, Wrea Green and Weeton.

The Rt Rev North said: "Freedom Church, on one of the most deprived estates in the country, cheers my heart with the outstanding service it offers to the community.

"Their big problem is that they have no building. They have been meeting in a small community centre which they have now outgrown."