A DARWEN church will mark the end of an era when its minister of 12 years steps down at the end of the month.

The Rev Eric Kirkman retires on January 27 from Tockholes United Reformed Church in Chapel Lane.

Mr Kirkman, who will turn 65 a week before his retirement, said he had enjoyed his time in East Lancashire, which ends 40 years of full-time service to the church.

Mr Kirkman said: "On the whole I have enjoyed it. Obviously there have been difficulties and sad times but there have been happy times and I have got on well with the people who come to the church.

"There have been tragedies when I have had to bury babies, small children and teenagers.

"We have had many weddings, but also funerals.

"We have had problems with most parts of the church and with smaller congregations because of the increasing age of the congregation."

Brought up in Chorley, Mr Kirkman worked in Fife, Scotland, and North Shields, Tyneside before coming to East Lancashire in 1994.

He also served as minister of Woodlands United Reformed Church, Preston Old Road, Blackburn, during the last 12 years.

He said: "At Woodlands there have been a lot of changes in the congregation. We have lost some people for various reasons, they have moved away or died, but we have recruited other people so the congregation is very much the same size as when I came."

Mr Kirkman said he would retire to Nantwich, Cheshire, when he stepped down on January 27.

He is married to Margaret and the couple have two children, Simon, 39, and Rachel, 32, who both have children and live in Scotland and Nottinghamshire.

Mr Kirkman and his wife, who live in Preston Old Road, will be sent off with a farewell service at Tockholes Village Hall on January 22 at 2pm.

Entertainment will be provided by the Ashleigh Singers, from Darwen.