Harvest Sunday 5th October
This year the Bishop invites us to consider supporting the Diocese of the Free State. More details here (https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/bburn-diocesan-harvest-appeal-blackburn/), and the option to donate online. If you would like to bring non-perishable food items for Blackburn Food Bank, please do so on 5th October as well.

The Diocese of Blackburn has a long history of valuing links with other parts of the Anglican Communion.

In fact, it is widely believed that the link between Blackburn and Bloemfontein is the oldest such link in the Anglican Communion.

This year, for our Bishop’s Harvest Appeal, we are encouraging our parishes and schools to learn about the lives of Christians in the Free State and support a number of projects.

Bishop Dintoe, Bishop of the Free State, has identified a number of priorities which our appeal can support. These are:

Training and formation of vocation candidates and clergy;
Developing ministry to boys and young men;
Assisting the Mothers' Union and Diocesan Gender Coordinator in Gender Based Violence workshops;
Carrying out environmental workshops in safeguarding the sanctity of the earth.

The diocese of the Free State has eight archdeaconries with a total of 69 parishes. Most recently, Tash Green, a member of the Link Diocese Committee, Elisabeth Sawle and Joy Rushton visited 27 of these parishes.