Are there any other buildings like parish churches that are so soaked in local history? In them people have been bringing their joys and sorrows for longer than any of us can really imagine. And in most cases, they are monuments to the ordinary, drenched in the prayers of commonplace people who had come to God with their commonplace concerns, hopes, and prejudices.

And yet, because so many of them are located in small, rural villages, their future is under threat. Many of them are now closed and so, without the help of organisations such as Friendless Churches, would eventually crumble away.

Over the years, Sarah and I have visited a number of these often humble gems. The least I can do as a sign of gratitude for their survival is use what will be a tortuous marathon in the Brecon Beacons to raise funds to aid in their survival.