More than £80,000 has been raised by the Bishop of Carlisle’s Harvest Appeal in the last three years to aid overseas farming projects.

Two major beneficiaries include a Christian Aid scheme in Malawi which supports pigeon pea farmers and a USPG project in the link Diocese of Zululand to develop community food gardens to help empower local communities.

The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev James Newcome, said: “I want to thank all those who faithfully support my Harvest Appeal each year. This is an astonishing amount of money to have been donated by Christians across our county in the last three years.

“From the reports we have received back from the funding agencies I know that hundreds of people’s lives have been improved as result. These annual donations have massively benefited our brothers and sisters in Christ who live many thousands of miles away.”

The Malawi project has received £36,565 to support 6,858 households in the production of pigeon peas and marketing of the produce. Meanwhile the Zululand project has received the same amount towards the development of food gardens, helping foster closer ties between the church and local communities.

Harvest appeal money has also been donated to local projects including the Cumbria Development Education Centre, Carlisle One World Centre and Global Justice Now.

This Sunday (6 September) sees the launch of the 2020 Bishop’s Harvest Appeal. Promotional resources including posters, leaflets and bookmarks, have already been distributed to churches across the county.

It will support a Christian Aid programme in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, through which observers monitor interactions between Palestinian inhabitants of the West Bank and East Jerusalem and the Israeli military, building a peaceful and protective presence.

The second beneficiary is a Mothers’ Union Literacy and Agriculture project in the Democratic Republic of Congo which aims to protect thousands of women from the threat of sexual and physical violence.

The launch of the 2020 Bishop’s Harvest Appeal will take place via a special Facebook Live event on Sunday 6 September at 2pm on the Diocese of Carlisle’s Facebook page.

During the half hour broadcast, viewers will hear more about the success of the previous Bishop’s Harvest campaign as well as hearing interviews with those set to benefit from the latest appeal.

Bishop James will be joined by the Bishop of Penrith, the Rt Rev Dr Emma Ineson, who is also the Mothers’ Union Central Chaplain, and other guests including the Rt Rev Peter Ramsden, retired Bishop of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and chair of the diocese’s Partnership in World Mission committee

Bishop Peter said: “It is so heartening to see the level of support that is offered each year through the Bishop’s Harvest Appeal.

“It highlights, yet again, the importance of being a part of the worldwide Christian family, offering us all opportunity to refocus on the global church. I give thanks to God that by looking beyond our county’s boundaries we are making a real and noticeable difference in the lives of so many others.”

ENDS

For further information please contact Dave Roberts, Diocesan Communications Manager, on 07469 153658, 01768 807764 or atcommunications@carlislediocese.org.uk.