A LANCASTER vicar has been given the distinction of being named as an honorary Canon of Blackburn Cathedral.

The Rev Peter Guiness, vicar of St Thomas, Lancaster, for 13 years, will be officially collated' by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt. Rev. Nicholas Reade, on November 14.

Rev Guiness, pictured, says: "This is not just an honour for me, it's one for the whole parish . It recognises the team effort of the people of the parish and its incumbent - and that's very exciting."

Rev Guiness, whose skills as a teacher and trainer of other clergy were given as major reasons as to why he was chosen, will remain a vicar at St Thomas but will also become more involved in the life of the cathedral.