A LEADING canon at Blackburn Cathedral who was suspended after a complaint of misconduct will have his fate decided by a tribunal in April.

Canon Sacrist Andrew Hindley is the highest ranking clergyman in the Church of England to have been suspended under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 which was introduced in January 2006.

He has been off work for months but details of his suspension became public at the beginning of the month when they were revealed in the Lancashire Telegraph.

The canon, who has respons-ibility for planning services and working with the choir, said it was not a criminal matter and has vowed to clear his name.

Cathedral bosses have refused to comment on the nature of the allegations, but the canon said it was over "something that has been said, not something that has been done".

The five-member tribunal will be formed of two ordained ministers, two lay people and a lawyer as chairman. The case is being investigated by London-based legal civil servant for the Church of England, Adrian Iles, who will present findings to the tribunal.

If a complaint is proved it can impose penalties ranging from a lifelong prohibition from exerc-ising any functions, to a rebuke.

Canon Hindley said: "From what I can understand it's going to be about April before the tribunal.

"It's depressing being off work. I shall be back if justice gets done."

A spokesman for the Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, who suspended the canon said: "The bishop will look carefully at whatever the tribunal decides."