A mystery benefactor has promised a gift worth £130,000 to the Walsingham Appeal if the Anglican Shrine manages to raise the final £250,000 in the next six months to reach a £2million target.

‘This came as quite out of the blue and is wonderful,’ said Father Philip North, Administrator of the Anglican Shrine.

He added today: ‘£2million seemed a huge target when we first started but we can finish it off with a big, final push.’

The Walsingham Appeal was set up last year as part of the 75th anniversary of the renovation of the Shrine, to enable the Anglican Shrine to offer pilgrims and visitors an enriched visit.

Plans reveal the physical opening up of the holy place to more people generating a warm sense of welcome, better facilities for the disabled and new educational opportunities to inform people of all ages what Walsingham is all about.

Gifts have poured in from all over the world and generous grants have been made resulting in £1.6m already raised or pledged. Building work is due to start shortly.

Then came the unexpected approach from a mystery benefactor, believed to be from London, who has said that he will write a cheque for £130,00 if the Appeal realises the other £250,000 before the summer.

‘It's a great challenge to us,’ added Father North.

Some plans are currently being finalised believed to involve a challenge to the clergy of the Shrine do so something highly unusual as a major sponsored event.

Item from: The Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham