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

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

22/04/2026

Time to say goodbye 👋 to a place I have lived over 17 years - a significant part of my life... A new stage is beginning but it is still sad to say goodbye to many friends I have made here. We went up to Blackburn for a few days to prepare the vicarage and it ended up painting 3 rooms unexpectedly. I spoke to a few neighbours and they are nice... The Year 3 kids from the next door church school also came to the vicarage front garden and the church yard to do litter picking! I do feel we are in the middle of everything.

I had a good send-off by my church at St Nic's and many people came with encouraging words and prayers. Really moved to do a final Eucharist for the Farsi speakers at church, especially those who were baptised recently. Loved the mug I got as a gift especially needing a lot of "brew" to keep the energy up with the exhausting move.

When we went up to Blackburn on Sunday, unexpectedly it coincided with a new mosque Masjid-el-Vali's first public open morning. I went along after knowing that from Facebook and it was good to be there as a priest to start building some relationships. May God help us to respect one another but also be firm and bold in talking about our faiths.

Apart from saying goodbye to fellow friends, sadly I also need to give our fish away as we can't have a pond in the vicarage. Also, our neighbour has officially taken the ownership of Sooty the cat, even though he has been living with them for some time.

It will be a long day tomorrow (the movers are still packing after nearly 12 hours) - but trusting God that it will be a good one. For those who pray, please remember us in this big move and transition.

06/04/2026

Happy Eastertide (i.e. Easter Season) - Easter is not only on Easter Sunday but it is a season of 50 days till Pentecost on 24 May this year. A season of joy and a season of hope.

This Eastertide also marks the end of my time at Nottingham and particularly at St Nic's church where I have been serving as a curate since July 2023... Next Sunday 12 April will be my last Sunday there but I will work till 16 April to finish well. Saying goodbye 👋 is always a tough one for me but resurrection gives us that hope of new things to come, but not forgotten what had been through. Resurrection should transform us, isn't it?

Yesterday on Easter Sunday, I had the privilege to baptise 13 individuals I have been journeying with in the last year or so. It was the fifth adult baptism I did since I was at St Nic's and it was always a joy to do that as a priest. In the morning, when I gave communion or said a word of blessing to some of the congregation I baptised or the child I led the thanksgiving, I was moved once again in holding the bread or laying my hand on them. It is such a privilege.

The move to Blackburn is coming soon in a few weeks - things are coming together but still loads to sort... But I get Rocky the 🐶 a Blackburn Rovers bandana 😄. Increasingly I can see God's hands on this despite the challenges but also joy ahead. Please pray for us.

My licensing service at Blackburn is on 17 May (Sunday) 4pm to mark the start of a new ministry there. Message me if you want to come.

05/04/2026

Jesus Christ is Risen! Happy Easter...

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)

03/04/2026

Since yesterday, we have now entered the Easter Triduum - the most sacred moments of the church calendar... Behold the cross ✝️

25/03/2026

There have been many news items today - including the historic one of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury being installed, and the sad news of ongoing conflicts in Iran and the Middle East. But this news item caught my eye, and I just can't put it away - the man was brave, despite being ill himself in the hospital. And the offender was wrong without a doubt. But what Nathan Newby did was to embrace the guy as a fellow human being, wanting to be touched and hugged, even though he was thinking of doing something horrific. And Nathan went to give the guy a hug without hesitation. And this act of kindness has changed the guy's mind, allowing Nathan to contact the police.

If you follow the church calendar, today is the day to remember the event of Annunciation - the angel came to tell Blessed Virgin Mary that she was chosen to carry God's Son, Jesus - a day we remember not only Mary's "yes", but also the incarnation - God has come to us to become human as his salvation plan. A radical plan, but also a touching one, as he came down to our level to be one of us as a human being - not too different from Nathan going down to the same level to give the guy a hug - a radical plan but also a moving and courageous one - and the guy changed because of this kindness.

Maybe when we focus our minds on the "big" things around us, God reminds us of his love for us through a brave and kind act by a man who happened to be "the right person in the right place at the right time".

Nathan Newby, who persuaded the "lone-wolf terrorist" to abandon his plan, receives the George Medal.

21/03/2026

A belated Nowruz Mubarak to my Iranian friends... (I thought Nowruz is today but I just realised it started yesterday morning).

This year's Nowruz may feel different for various reasons to many Iranians, but something has not changed: God's love to you and he brings hope and new life to our situations, no matter if it is good or bad.

Tomorrow we will be marking Nowruz at my church - we decided not to have a big celebration but focus on praying for Iran at the main church service, which I will be leading .

In the afternoon, I am going to lead a service of marriage blessing for two Iranian couples who have asked me to bless their marriages - they were married in Iran outside the church. I feel honoured to share such an important moment in their faith journey.

13/01/2026

Thanks for all your good wishes for my new post in Blackburn... Doing some writing this afternoon and discovered a very comfy armrest, fitting perfectly for my forearm when using my laptop 😁😁- and good to have the warmth and companionship too 😁😁.

I am always amazed at what your furry friend can do for you 🐶🐶.

09/01/2026

At the beginning of 2026, I have some exciting news... I will be moving to Blackburn in May for a new stage of my priestly ministry as the priest-in-charge of two parishes (St James' and St Stephen's Blackburn). It will be in a context very different from where I am now, but I sense that God is leading me into this new place.

Please pray for my family and me during this transition, especially for all the preparation and practicalities of moving from where we have lived for the last 17 years. Please also pray for the people in these two parishes. We are excited to learn more about the county of red roses (i.e., Lancashire)!

It is early days, but if you would love to come to the licensing on 24 May (Pentecost Sunday, which is a bank holiday weekend) at 4pm, do let me know.

05/01/2026

Feeling really sad to know that Fr Simon Bishop SJ died yesterday - the news has come unexpectedly, and he was my guide when I did the Spiritual Exercises again with the Jesuits between June and December 2024. He was a gentle and wise priest, and his guidance over those six months (including two intense residentials when I saw him every day) has helped me discern what is essential in my relationship with God and in God's guidance. I still remember his encouragement when it was hard to press on in prayers and during the Spiritual Exercises.

In his last email to me over a year ago, after I sent him a card for Christmas 2024, he wrote: "May the Good Lord continue to bless you so that, as in the grace of the Second Week, you may know Him more, love Him more and follow Him more." I will hold on to what he wrote.

As a priest myself, you can never tell how much you may have influenced another person's spiritual life... This is one thing I am learning from Fr Simon and many others... May the Lord help me...

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.