Story
VICAR SLEEPING ON THE JOB!
For the forty days of Lent local Vicar Revd Canon Mervyn Roberts will be spending his nights sleeping on top of his church tower.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday, 25th February, the start of the season of Lent
in the Christian calendar Canon Roberts will be towering above his local village in Bishop’s Tachbrook facing the wind, rain ,snow and the clock chimes as he undertakes a sponsored sleep out in a bid to raise money for the building of the St Chad’s Centre, a community centre designed to serve the needs of both the village and church.
Talking about his marathon sleep-over Mervyn points out that the purpose is more than just a sponsored event:
“This act of discipline is in keeping with the strange eccentricities once expected of holy men and hermits who would spend weeks, months and even years living on top of pillars or towers for the spiritual elevation of their soul. Spending many hours both awake and hopefully asleep, I will be praying for the future of our community project and I will be able to direct my gaze on the ground below me where we hope to have it built. I have to admit that my mission also has a more earth bound intention and that is the accumulation of cash from everyone who takes an interest in my endeavour.”
“We require £ 250,000 from individuals in order to begin the task so I am using the penitential season of lent to pray in some pledges, collect some cash and raise awareness so that everyone who hears about our vision for a building serving this community will feel motivated to support the work.”
Over one tenth of out total has been raised so far, so a small but significant start has already been made. The final cost is likely to be around £700,000 but the St Chad committee, representatives from both the local community and the church, are confident that the target can be met.
Canon Roberts will be ascending the tower on Wednesday 25th February
( Ash Wednesday)at 1pm and sleeping on the roof for 40 nights until Monday 6th April. He is happy to welcome visitors and will give a wave to those in the street.