Diocese’s new Fund for Sudan

The Bishop of Salisbury has announced a generous donation has provided for a new fund that aims to provide both Sudan and South Sudan with education, training in hygiene, specialist toilet construction and photovoltaic electricity.

Speaking at a Diocesan Synod, taking place via Zoom on Thursday, September 10, the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam told members:

“When the emergency appeal for the Sudan and South Sudan in relation to COVID-19 was launched in July it was seen by the family of friends of my parents. Members of that family have made a generous gift of £50,000 in honour of our parents, Dermot and Margaret McCracken and Sydney and Kathleen Holtam.

“The gift was made on August 1, Lammas Day, Loaf Mass Day which celebrated the first fruits of the harvest and used for Communion with God. In this case it is literally the sharing of bread with those in need.

“The purpose of the gift was to ensure that our Diocesan appeal reached its target of £50,000, for which it is not needed as, thanks be to God, the appeal reached £78,600.

“Then it is to establish a Bishop Holtam Fund to continue, in an area of need which cries out for relief, work the value of which a previous generation witnessed in their lives and professional commitments to healthcare and education. The McCrackens were both doctors and my father was a teacher and trainer of teachers and my mother a nurse.”