To: Clergy and People
From: The Bishop
26th February, 2016
Walk-A-Thon 2016
The Friends of the Diocese of the Windward Islands have recommended to me that as a Diocese we organize a Diocesan wide Walk-A-Thon for the Saturday 21st May, 2016 to promote the importance of physical activity with regards to good health practices and at the same time to raise funds for the restoration of the St. George’s Cathedral.
The intention is that each parish will decide the route of the Walk-A-Thon and distribute the attached sheets to members oftheir various congregations to seek sponsors, and to participate in the Walk-A-Thon.
You are kindly asked to send all proceeds to the Diocesan Office. Parishes may choose to send 100%, 75% or SO% of the proceeds to the Diocese and put what is retained towards their own restoration works.
The present estimate for the restoration of the Cathedral is approximately $2.3 million XCD ($8SO,OOO.OOUSD), this will be revised since more recently the intention is to conserve rather than to restore.
The historic St. George’s Cathedral, located in Kingstown, was constructed more than 150 years ago. No major repairs have been carried out on the Cathedral for more than 20 years. Prior to that, work done on the Cathedral was on an “as need” basis and was mainly to repair what was deemed to be “critical” at the time.
With the passage of time, termites have infested the Cathedral to the extent that key areas of the church are deemed unusable and dangerous to the congregation. The entire Cathedral therefore, has to be restored. The Cathedral is a special place to many people, a House of Prayer, a Sanctuary, a place of Solace, where we experience the comfort of God’s Holy Presence, a place of History. I am sure that it has a distinctive importance to you.
I am kindly asking all Anglicans and people of good will to support this worthy cause. You can get your Walk-AThon Sheets from your parish priest or from the Diocesan Office.
With every good wish and God’s Blessings.
Yours sincerely
The Rt. Rev’d C. Leopold Friday
Bishop of the Windward Islands