A RELIGIOUS leader stabbed to death during a prayer service in France was known to thousands of East Lancashire Christians, it has emerged.

And the Dean of Blackburn today paid a moving tribute to "inspirational" Brother Roger, who was killed as 2,500 worshippers watched in horror.

Brother Roger, 90, was known to many of East Lancashire's churchgoers who, like the Dean, had visited his French-based Taize Christian ecumenical community for spiritual inspiration and guidance.

Described as "one of the best-loved Christian leaders of our time", Swiss-born Roger Schutz was murdered at the Reconciliation church on Tuesday.

Now the Dean, the Very Reverend Christopher Armstrong, has opened a book of condolence at Blackburn Cathedral and is planning a remembrance service for those who visited Taize.

He said coaches were expected to leave the region with mourners to attend his funeral in Burgundy, France, next Tuesday.

He said: "Brother Roger and Taize influenced the lives of so many people, including my own.

Everyone was offered peace and hospitality by him and I felt immense spiritual support whenever I was there.

"This is terrible and a senseless attack. I am shocked. We have lost a very great man."

Brother Roger founded the community during the Second World War to provide refuge to people of all Christian churches who were threatened with persecution.

Today, Taize unites members of several Christian denominations from some 30 countries and attracts tens of thousands of young people each year for prayers and meditation.

Many church schools across East Lancashire organise yearly visits there.

Some of those at evening prayers on Tuesday are reported to have overpowered a Romanian woman after Brother Roger was stabbed.

Police confirmed she had been arrested.

The public prosecutor in nearby Macon, Jean-Louis Cost, said it seemed the attack was premeditated. He said the woman had bought a knife the day before and "the intention to kill was obvious".

He added he had ordered that a psychiatric examination of the woman be carried out.

The death has horrified Christians around the world.

Pope Benedict XVI has said he was particularly dismayed at news of Brother Roger's death as he had received "a moving letter from him" only this week. Brother Roger had written to say he was sorry that he could not attend World Youth Day celebrations in Cologne, Germany, because of ill-health.

The Church of England's Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said it was an "indescribable shock" to lose "one of the best-loved Christian leaders of our time".

l Details of the remembrance service are yet to be announced but the book of condolence will be open every day at Blackburn Cathedral between 9am and 5pm.