Canon Andrew Clitherow, the priest at St Cuthbert's Church has been appointed a chaplain to the Queen, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.

The honorary appointment, dated from Christmas Eve, places Canon Clitherow within the 36 members of the College of Chaplains, which forms part of Queen's Ecclesiastical Household.

Wearing a scarlet cassock and a special badge, they preach once a year in the Chapel Royal, in St James' Palace, London.

The 57-year-old, who will hold the appointment until he is 70, said: "It is a very great honour to be invited to hold this position and it was a great surprise. I feel very unworthy of it.

"I hope this appointment can also be seen in a wider context, as a tribute and encouragement for all the clergy in the Church of England in Lancashire and the wonderful work they do, day in and day out."

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, said: "I and the whole Blackburn Diocese are delighted about this appointment.

"Andrew is one of the finest pastors I know, and has given so much encouragement to clergy and parishes throughout Lancashire.

"We rejoice with him that he has received his honour.

"He will have a few duties to fulfil each year in the Royal Household, and there is a real sense in which he will take all of us with him on those occasions."

Canon Clitherow was educated at Durham University and trained for the priesthood in Salisbury.

He moved to Lancashire in 1989, when he became Chaplain of Rossall School, after working in the St Albans and Lichfield Dioceses.

He was Vicar of St Paul, Scotforth in Lancaster from 1994 to 2000 and Diocesan Director of Training and a Residentiary Canon of Blackburn Cathedral from 2000 to 2007, when he moved to St Cuthbert's.

He is married to Rebekah and has four children.