THE leader of the Church of England in Lancashire is to retire.

The Rt Rev Alan Chesters is to step down from the post on August 31 after 14 years in charge of over churches in the Blackburn Diocese.

And the bishop has revealed that some of his fondest memories of the job are from his time in Preston.

During the last Preston Guild celebration, in 1992, the Bishop was caught in a downpour during an open air service on Avenham Park with the former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey and the late Cardinal Basil Hume, former leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England.

He said: "One of the outstanding memories for me is the Preston Guild. I had a major part to play in the religious procession. That was very special, but the during the outdoor service we got absolutely drenched!"

The Bishop, born in Huddersfield, the son of a bricklayer, was ordained in 1962 and appointed a curate in South London.

In 1989 he became Bishop of Blackburn -- the head of the Church of England in the county, covering 900sq miles.

In his role he soon became interested in the countryside, and in particular South Ribble. He was also the national spokesman for the church on education and rural affairs during the foot and mouth crisis.

And his work has left him with plenty of local memories to retire with. He said: "I'm delighted to be associated with a number of countryside projects in and around South Ribble.

"It has also been wonderful to be associated with the reordering of Preston's Parish Church by making St John's a minster church."

No successor has been chosen, but a national panel will select two names to offer to the Prime Minister, who makes the final announcement.

The Rev Michael Wedgeworth, Blackburn Diocesian secretary, said: "Nobody really knows how the recomendations come to be made but I am sure that an understanding of the area or familiarity with the area could be factors in the decision."