He was President of the Durham Union Society, graduating from St John's College, Durham with a Bachelor of Arts degree;[3][4] He also studied at Hull University, receiving a Master of Arts degree, followed by ordination training at Westcott House, Cambridge.
[3] Blackburn was ordained (in the Church of England): made a deacon at Petertide 1983 (26 June), by Graham Leonard, Bishop of London, at St Paul's Cathedral,[7] and ordained a priest the Petertide following (1 July 1984), by Jim Thompson, Bishop of Stepney, at his title church.
He was then Vicar of St Mark’s Mosborough from 1992, during which time he was also Area Dean of Attercliffe starting in 1996 and an honorary canon of Sheffield Cathedral from 1998.
[9] Blackburn retired from full-time ministry in 2018: a farewell Eucharist was held for him at Liverpool Cathedral on 21 April 2018.
[10] Blackburn married Helen in 1980 and they have four children;[4] Helen is also ordained in the Church of England: made a deacon at Petertide 1999 (4 July)[11] and ordained a priest the Petertide following (5 July 2000), both times by Jack Nicholls, Bishop of Sheffield, at Sheffield Cathedral.