Blackburn Cathedral has appointed its first-ever ecumenical canons in efforts to build closer bonds between the Christian communities within the region.

The newly appointed canons will be involved with discussions about the work of the diocese, each bringing opinions and insight from their experiences within their own denominations and works.

Rev Stephen Poxon, chair of the North Lancashire District of the Methodist Church, and one of the new canons has said that the appointment was an honour. He told the Lancashire Telegraph, "It is a privilege to have that role and to represent other churches here in Lancashire working across church traditions."

Another of the new appointments is Bishop Friedrich Weber, the Bishop of Braunschweig in the Evangelical Church of Germany.

The German Bishop has been in communication with Blackburn Cathedral over the past few years initiating exchange programmes between UK and German bishops.

The other appointment is the Very Rev Canon Kevin Kenny, Roman Catholic Dean of Blackburn with Darwen and Parish Priest of Pleasington Priory.

Welcoming the deeper ecumenical relations between churches through the new developments, the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade said the three canons were "creating a moment in history".

He said, "These three particular friends of the Church of England in Lancashire are creating a moment of history in our diocese as they become our first ecumenical canons.

"Singly and together they will bring new insights into the life and work of our cathedral, and of the wider diocese, and they will also deepen our relationship with their churches."

Bishop Reade will formally collate the new canons at a service at Blackburn Cathedral in January 2008.