The Bishops’ Lent Appeal 2007 has raised a magnificent £10,560.91 for the Church Urban Fund (CUF).
The Bishop of Ely, Dr Anthony Russell, this week (Thursday 12 July) handed over the sizeable gift to the Church Urban Fund’s representative, Jonathan Cryer, at the Bishop’s House, Ely.
The money was raised by parishes across the Diocese as part of their charitable giving during the Lent season – together with help from individuals and other organisations. A proportion of these gifts will help bring lasting change to people living in the poorest neighbourhoods in our region.
Most visitors to Ely Diocese see only the famous university and idyllic rural scenery of Cambridgeshire and north west Norfolk. Yet within these areas of relative wealth and beauty, there are pockets of multiple deprivation where people living in rural and urban communities face poverty and marginalisation.
“This giving is a marvellous result,” said Bishop Anthony Russell. “I am most grateful to all those who have supported this important appeal. As the title implies, its projects have been mainly in urban areas. However, the work of the CUF also extends to rural areas where there is extensive and considerable need, as we know in this Diocese.” “It’s cracking news,” added Canon Alan Hargrave, Chairman of the Diocesan Board for Church in Society. “Well done, everyone.”
The Church Urban Fund aims to tackle poverty and injustice wherever it is found in this country. In Ely Diocese alone we have supported projects in Orton Goldhay, Peterborough; East Barnwell, Arbury and Romsey Town in Cambridge; a homeless project in Wisbech; and St Barnabas Community Centre on the Oxmoor estate, Huntingdon.