THE Bishop of Burnley found himself on the same wavelength as an Islamic centre when his microphone picked up Muslim chants during a confirmation service.

The Rt Rev Martyn Jarrett was confirming youngsters at St Silas Church, Blackburn, when the public address system began to pick up chants from the Al-Asr Education Centre based at the former May House Hotel, next to the church in Preston New Road.

But the vicar at St Silas', the Rev Brian Stevenson, says there is no animosity between the church and the centre and they will look back on the incident with a smile.

The church was full with the friends and relatives of youngsters and adults from three parishes, St Silas', St Mark's and St Luke's.

When the Islamic chants suddenly started to be picked up on the public address system it had to be turned off.

Mr Stevenson said: "These things have begun to happen with the use of radio microphones.

"We were on the same wavelength as the Islamic centre next door. It was an absolute fluke and a coincidence because we are only in the church on a Monday afternoon once every three years, when there are confirmations. "It was something which was a problem at the time but which we will look back on in the future with a smile.

"Its not the first time something like this has happened. Sacred Heart Church across the road from us picked us up on one occasion.

"There is certainly no problem between us and the people next door and we have had a chat about it."

Mohammed Shahid, a trustee of the education centre, said they did not realise there was a problem until yesterday when someone from the church came to tell them what had happened.

He said investigations were being carried out into how it happened and he planned to apologise in person to those at St Silas'.

He said the study centre had not yet picked up any transmissions from the church.

He added: "We are here to co-operate and make sure that we are not upsetting anybody.

"We will do anything in our power to ensure that it doesn't interfere with their services again."

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