The Revd. Canon Donald Gray will preach at a combined Festival Service and Inaugural Service for the new Chairman of Saddleworth Parish Council.

Canon Donald Gray, although born in Manchester, grew up in Oldham.

Trained for the priesthood at King's College, London, he has a doctorate from the University of Manchester.

After parishes in Leigh and Bury, in 1974 he became Rector of Liverpool until he was appointed a Canon of Westminster, Rector of St Margaret's and Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons in 1987.

He has been a Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen since 1982.

For many years involved in liturgical revision, both in the Church of England and on the ecumenical scene, he is the President of the Society for Liturgical Study.

He, and his wife Joyce, who was born in Oldham, retired to Stamford in Lincolnshire in 1998 where he continues to write on liturgical and historical subjects.

Dr Gray received the CBE in the 1998 Birthday Honours List