Tsunami Appeal tops 86 thousand pounds

A few weeks short of the first anniversary of the devastating Tsunami in the Indian Ocean an appeal set up by the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe has closed, having topped eighty-six thousand pounds. The Right Reverend Geoffrey Rowell said he was delighted and humbled by the final total of £86,687.

After the disaster on Boxing Day 2004, Bishop Geoffrey appealed to the 250 churches in 42 countries comprising the Diocese which stretches from Helsinki to Morocco and from Tenerife to Moscow. He focused the help on the Diocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka, where he had personal links with Bishop Duleep de Chickera.

Churches in the Diocese responded by special collections and fund raising events. The Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Gibraltar handed over a cheque for £2,600. In Berlin the congregation of St. George's Church drew on the talents of 50 musicians, both professional and amateur, to stage a concert which raised over £2,500.

Bishop Geoffrey says; “From a diocese that is spread over a sixth of the earth’s surface we are used to long distance communication, and parishes from the smallest to the largest worked quickly and lovingly to do what they could to help. The money raised is being used to provide permanent help for people displaced by the Tsunami, to re-establish schools and community centres, as well as trauma and bereavement counselling for clergy in Colombo who were overwhelmed with pastoral need on a level they could never have anticipated.”

Although the appeal has now closed (12th December 2005) congregations around the diocese continue to pray for churches working on these projects a year after the disaster. Monday 12th December 2005

For more information, please contact Revd. Paul Needle, Diocese in Europe Communications Officer Tel: +44 (0)1933 312800; Mobile : +44 (0)7833 372439; E-Mail: paul.needle@europe.c-of-e.org.uk