Just short of £400 was raised by the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, the Right Reverend John Davies, who spent three hours ‘on his knees’ last Thursday, Maundy Thursday, cleaning the shoes of passers-by in Swansea Market.

Shining Shoes on Maundy Thursday

Photo Credit: Church in Wales

This was the fourth year in succession that the Bishop has done this and, despite his aching back and stiff knees, he was delighted with the result of his work. The amount raised was the highest shoe-shine total in the four years so far and it will be donated to the Bishop’s annual Lent Appeal which last year raised over £17,000. The Appeal proceeds are divided between different charities nominated each year by church people in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon.

The Bishop said, “Some people were a bit gob-smacked by the prospect of a bishop shining their shoes; some people now come by every year; but everyone who took part was good-humoured and generous. I’d like to thank them for their kindness and I’d also like to thank the authorities at Swansea Market for their co-operation and again allowing me my usual pitch.”

The three charities which will benefit from the Lent Appeal are:  the Welsh Dragon Burns Club, based at Morriston Hospital Burns Unit; the Kaleidoscope Project which runs projects in many places, including Llandrindod Wells and Brecon, for people with drug and alcohol problems, enabling them to make positive changes in their lives; and ZANE, which helps regenerate communities in Zimbabwe which have suffered oppression.

For more information, please contact:

Anna Morrell 
Archbishop's Media Officer / Swyddog y Cyfryngau i'r Archesgob 
Tel: 02920 348208; mobile: 07 91 91 587 94 
39 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff / 39 Heol y Gadeirlan, Caerdydd 
CF11 9XF 
http://www.churchinwales.org.uk 
http://www.eglwysyngnghymru.org.uk