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Anglicans exceed fund-raising targets for Middle East Christians


Iraqi Christian boy with ACN supplies

Iraqi Christian boy with ACN supplies

Generous Church of England parishioners have raised well over double their target in an ecumenical fund-raising project for suffering Christians in Iraq and Syria. The Anglican Diocese of London surpassed their 2016 Lent appeal's original target of £35,000, hitting the £90,000 mark thanks to a generous response by parishes across the capital.

The Bishop of London, The Rt Revd Dr Richard Chartres commended parishioners' efforts to raise funds on behalf of Christian charities Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) and Open Doors, with proceeds going to persecuted Christians in war-torn Iraq and Syria.

Bishop Richard Chartres said: "The Lent Appeal this year has obviously touched a nerve of sympathy throughout the diocese. I am hugely grateful to all those who have together raised more than £90,000 to assist persecuted Christians in the Middle East."

Both ACN and Open Doors have a long history of working to better the lives of Christians in Iraq and Syria.

In towns and cities racked by persecution, shellfire, bomb-blast and worsening poverty in the Middle East, ACN is working to distribute much needed aid to suffering families desperate for food, warmth, clean clothes, shelter and medicine.

In Syria alone, ACN is providing clothes, food and toiletries for 250 orphans from Homs and vital aid for up to 5,000 people in Aleppo.

The Diocese of London's donation of £45,000 for ACN will mean that the charity is able to continue to support those worst-affected by the violence.

In a message to the diocese Neville Kyrke-Smith, National Director of Aid to the Church in Need (UK), said: "We are grateful to all of the churches and congregation members who have donated to your superb Lent Appeal this year.

"With your money we will be supporting destitute and traumatised Christian families in Syria and Iraq, driven from their homes by targeted violence and warfare. They rely on the Church for essentials - food, shelter, clothing - and our prayers. From my time and recent visits to the Middle East, as well as from constant updates from our project partners, I know how much this support means to them. Thank you on behalf of all the faithful who are trying to keep the hope of Christ alive in such a terrible situation."

London's Anglican churches have continued their fundraising efforts with a variety of initiatives from quizzes and raffles to a pilgrimage from Seville to Santiago.

The Reverend Prebendary Alan Moses, Vicar of All Saints Margaret Street and Chair of the House of Clergy in the Diocesan Synod, will walk one of the 16 routes across France and Spain to Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, to raise money for the diocesan Lent Appeal. His journey of 1,000 km on the Silver Way is expected to last about 40 days in total.

Patricia Hatton, ACN's Head of Fundraising and Marketing, said: "We are deeply moved by the response of parishes across the Catholic and Anglican communions to our Lenten 'Support a Refugee Family' Appeal. Families in Iraq and Syria have endured immense suffering and lived through upheaval and targeted violence. They beg us: 'Please pray for us. Please tell our stories. Please save us.' These persecuted Christians need you - and all of us. We cannot turn away from them in their hour of need."

Since March 2011 when the conflict began, ACN has provided £7.9 million in aid for Christians and others in the Syria and more than £11 million for projects in Iraq. Of that figure, nearly 60 percent - £4.7 million - was provided in 2015 alone.

It costs in the region of £150 a month to support a family with essentials and medicine.

To find out more and how you can help go to www.acnuk.org/persecution

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