The Ninetieth anniversary really was a time of celebrations. On the actual anniversary day, 26th September, a service Holy Communion was held with Rev. John Roberts, one of our former vicars, as our guest. A service of Thanksgiving was held on Saturday 28th September. This also combined the licensing, by the Bishop of Burnley, of Captain Peter Simmons as parish community worker and to cap the afternoon the Rev. John Astill formally opened the new extension. A commemorative tree was planted by Jack and Beatrice Lightbown who had just celebrated their own golden wedding anniversary. The Rev. Roy Taylor returned to preach at Sunday's services.

Church of the Saviour always tried not to waste anything. True to form when the new extension necessitated the removal of two pairs of solid oak and pine doors, those same doors were passed on to Harold Bell who was very handy working with wood and produced some lovely wooden toys from those old doors.

Early in 1992 work in the community began to take off as Peter Simmons soon proved his worth. He set up valuable links with Longshaw school and ran holiday clubs with the help of our own older teenagers, who thus gained valuable work experience.

In November the first of the Saturday Coffee Mornings was started by Maureen Eccles and Sylvia Lord. From that very small, simple beginning a very much valued tradition arose and slowly grew over the years. By the end of the decade those coffee mornings had become established in the cosy atmosphere of the extension (by then officially known as foyer) as the main fund raising and social events of the year.

In December General Synod voted in favour of Women Priests. A year later PCC was required, after much discussion and explanation, to vote on two measures: namely, agreement to a woman presiding at Holy Communion and, in the future, a female incumbent.

The new church building at Christ Church was formally consecrated on February 27th. It is worth noting that 6 new churches were built in the south east of Blackburn around this time.

Easter '94 was a sad time, with the funerals on Maunday Thursday of both Bill Graham and Harold Bell. Two engraved plaques bearing the words of the ten commandments were erected in the sanctuary, donated in their wills by Lilian and Harold Bell.. In May, Deaconess Brenda Parkinson was ordained priest.

Many of the Saviour congregation travelled to Old Trafford in Manchester to join in what was then the largest Songs of Praise programme ever recorded. The organisers expected to fill one corner of one stand, instead they filled the whole stadium.

Kevan Royle announced his appointment as Team Rector of Aylesbury in February 1995, followed a few months later by Peter Simmons who announced his own move to High Wycombe. In June, the anniversary procession saw the first outing of the church's new banner made by the Banner group.

The appointment of vicar number ten was announced in November. This would be a first for the Saviour, as Paul Carter's wife Chris would be our first female priest, working alongside Paul in a non-stipendiary capacity.

Christmas shopping trips became a regular and much enjoyed feature of the build up to Christmas, organised by Brian and Annette Concannon.

In May 1996 the church received a Home Communion Set from Norman and Eunice Maddock as a gift in memory of their parents and three brothers. Their father John Maddock was our first vicar and the boys, John, Albert and Raymond died in the flu' epidemic in 1920.

Another first for Church of the Saviour was the renting of the Charity shop in Blackburn just before Christmas. This turned out to be an excellent alternative way of raising money and became a bienniel event. Eric Perry was licensed as Reader in November 1996.

New NIV pew bibles and a larger print Lectern Bible were given as gifts and dedicated on anniversary Sunday 1997. Jean and Brian Swainbank produced a Cook Book of Jeannies Jottings, illustrated by Brian, for sale in aid of church funds.

Whilst fund raising was always a necessity to support the church's work, the congregation was always outward looking. When the opportunity arose to walk the new M65 Motorway before it officially opened, several members jumped at the chance and between them, John Ashcroft, Tom Pearson, Bryan Waring, Jeff, Carol and Ben Makinson. Tony Burke, Chris, Sarah and Leanne Kelly raised around £600 in aid of the Hospital Scanner Appeal.

In line with the (unofficial) no waste policy, Joan Jenkinson became an expert in recycling greetings cards to produce some very unique and attractive new cards, sold in aid of church funds.

By 1999, in response to some rather alarming national incidents of child abuse, Blackburn Diocese required each church to produce and implement a Safe from Harm Policy.

The new millennium was celebrated across the globe with parties and fireworks. In response to requests it seemed appropriate that a small number of people gathered in the 99 year old church for a quiet meditative service. The PCC approved the commissioning of a parish survey as the beginning of outreach work to the parish. Leading directly from this the foyer was open on Tuesday afternoons for those who would like to drop in for a cuppa and a chat or just a bit of company.

Two new notice boards were erected in the grounds proclaiming our presence to all those who pass by. New Mission Praise hymn books with several large print copies were provided by legacies from Mary Waring and Brenda Duckworth.

Youth work began to grow again after struggling in the middle years of the decade. The Campaigner Band did (and continues to do) some sterling work for other churches, leading walks of witness and anniversary processions, even entertaining Kosovar refugees on one occasion. In October 2000 a youth club was opened in the top vestry but this room was soon out grown and the group moved into the hall.