Daniel Tsoi 蔡泰然 - an Anglican priest journeying with God in His love

08/09/2026

Feel free to share and come along - a few photos from our special collection at the photo exhibition

Adnan Hussain MP
Little Harwood, Blackburn, Lancashire (PAST)
Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education Blackburn with Darwen Library and Information Service

08/09/2026

3 days to go - "Light in Little Harwood" photo exhibition at St Stephen's Church: only for this coming weekend (Friday 11th to Sunday 13th)... Just a few photos here from our local collection of nearly 100 photos of Little Harwood - St Stephen's church, St Stephen's School, the local interests and more...

Free to everyone, with refreshments. Feel free to bring something to share your memories of Little Harwood.

An informal meeting from 2pm on Saturday 12th with community members to share memories of this place we treasure and God's faithfulness despite challenges.

Hope to see you there.

05/09/2026

Less than a week to go - Do come to Blackburn St Stephen Church in Little Harwood for the community photo exhibition to remember the local history of this community - the church, the school, the mosque, and local interests...

Everyone is welcome with refreshments. No need to book but just come in.

Friday 11th September 1pm to 4pm
Saturday 12th September 10am to 4pm (2pm to 3pm at church with an informal meeting to share our memories of Little Harwood)
Sunday 13th September 1pm to 4pm

Feel free to share with anyone interested and has connection with Little Harwood

12/08/2026

Solar eclipse seen at Blackburn - I am so surprised to witness that and learn the other function of the colander! I feel so small as a human being, and leave me with the awe from God the Creator of this universe - amazing 😁.

07/08/2026

I had been back to my spiritual home at the Community of Resurrection in Mirfield for a few days - to pray with the brethren in their daily rhythm, to celebrate the Feast of Transfiguration yesterday, to plan the next few months for the parishes and to connect with Christ. Each time I go back, that sense of coming home is still there... But it is also time to go from here. Yesterday the prayer with Pray as you Go reminds me of the following: Have there been times when you have wanted to hold on to a moment of consolation? To make your faith a place of comfort alone? Gently ask yourself: Where might I be trying to “build tents” in my spiritual life? What might be inviting me to move beyond them? The light of Christ does not remain still. It draws us forward...

I have been blessed these few days with nature, and time to deepen with Jesus... It is time to be the blessings for others through him. Thank you Lord...

31/07/2026

Today is the feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556), the founder of the Society of Jesus. Many of you know that I am deeply influenced by Ignatius especially his spirituality.

Around lunch time, I went to Preston St Wilfred Church - a Jesuit parish. I have never been but as there are not too many Jesuit churches around, it is good to visit on this feast day of Ignatius.

Ignatius’s story didn't begin with grand visions of a religious order, but with a shattered leg on a battlefield in Pamplona. In his long months of recovery, trading books of worldly chivalry for the lives of Christ and the saints, he discovered the subtle art of discernment: noticing where deep, lasting joy truly lives.

Each time I visited a church with Ignatius's statue, I took a photo to remember his influence to many including me. One of the great messages from St Ignatius is "For rhe greater glory of God (Ad maiorem Dei gloriam or AMDG)... How can we serve God and others for the greater glory of God? An important question for us all.

Happy Feast - and of course need to feast... It is Japanese!!

30/07/2026

Surprises in Blackburn...

Now, over 2 months into working at St Stephen Church and St James's Church in Blackburn, I am amazed by so many surprises... A christening/baptism and a wedding this month - our last wedding at one of my parish churches was before Covid, over 6 years ago. In an area with the majority of my neighbours being South Asian Muslims, being a parish priest is never boring.

Just today - a meeting with the local family hub staff wanting to see how churches can help and do something together for families, then another meeting to plan with a Muslim friend to organise a photo exhibition of the local community, using the parish church to host this exhibition and hopefully linking with my neighbours to share the history of the church, the mosque and schools - reminding us God's faithfulness...

Also today, on my way home, I stopped my car as an elderly Muslim man struggled to walk back home from the mosque, not able to tell me his address and phone number but only able to say "it is somewhere nearby"... Finally with the help from the local kids, who know me as the priest of their church school next to the vicarage, helps me bring the elderly man back home to his wife who speaks minimal English. At least I picked up what she says - "thank you" in Urdu...

Parish life in these two parishes is full-on, especially since the numbers of the congregations are not huge... But in the last two months or so, I can see God in all these, and I am loving these moments, including the beautiful scenery like waterfalls (but not the crazy Blackburn roundabouts 😁).

30/07/2026

Some may you that Ignatius of Loyola has a deep influence in my Christian faith and my spirituality... Tomorrow is the day to remember him and I find these two things I particularly from him particularly enriching my faith...

The gift of tears
The appreciation of nature especially stars changing our perspective

May Ignatius of Loyola continue to inspire us to draw closer to God.

The Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola is on 31 July, Sr MaryAnne fcJ r...

03/07/2026

I think I am back on some travels for this month after the gorgeous weather last week in north Lancashire and the Lake District. Two days as a Londoner after a long while since I moved up further to the North (not going to be a long debate of North vs South of England)... The train from Preston got delayed but has actually worked it out better, and got a very discounted theatre ticket for a great show "My Neighbour Totoro" on a Friday evening... And of course a quick Malaysian dinner for Nasi Lemak in the Chinatown.

Tomorrow it will be the big day of Andrei's ordination to the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church in Brentwood Cathedral - a busy two days but it has been good. Then back on Sunday before heading to Liverpool for several days for my first diocesan conference of the Diocese of Blackburn.

18/05/2026

It happened! Yesterday was a special day as I was licensed to be the priest-in-charge of Blackburn St Stephen and St James. It was a joyful occasion and I sense the support of many people locally in Blackburn and from Nottingham (especially my previous church) where I used to live for over 18 years - no matter coming to the licensing service (those from Nottingham who travelled a long way) or through their prayers. I was honoured for the local MP who came to the service, as well as the mayor of Blackburn as her last civic engagement before stepping down. I sense and am confident that God is doing something new and exciting in this part of the town, bringing reconciliation as Paul reminded us in his second letter to the Corinthians. Please remember me and people in these two parishes in your prayers.

We are adapting to life in Blackburn - trying Desi breakfast, walking around in the parishes etc. Last week, I met for the first time those who are similar to me as starting their first job as an incumbent within the diocese. Good to know some new folks, and spent time
In the beautiful diocesan retreat house Whalley Abbey.

For the greater glory of God...

Diocese of Blackburn