The Appeal by Cost of Conscience in association with Forward in Faith to commemorate the late Bishop John Richards has now been launched.

Donations will be collected by Forward in Faith and passed on to the Trustees of the Fund. Whilst we are grateful for any donations, large or small, payment by Standing Order enormously simplifies the equitable distribution of the Fund’s resources. A Banker’s Order form to facilitate regular payments can be printed from this link.

Cheques should be made out to Forward in Faith with an indication that they are to be applied to The Bishop John Richards Memorial Fund. A generous donation from the Glastonbury Pilgrimage Association has already been promised.

The Appeal will run for five years, to make modest grants and loans to parishes with a view to promoting their excellence in some respect. Initially these will be in the range of £50 to £200.

Bishop John constantly urged us to turn our parishes into Centres of Excellence. So please encourage those who have benefited from the excellence of Bishop John Richards’ own ministry, by making a regular donation however small to the Fund; or by letting his name be associated with a grant or loan to transform your parish into a Centre of Excellence

The Fund might consider paying towards speakers’ expenses at a local teaching event; to help in providing security equipment to enable a church to remain open on weekdays; or enabling people to attend events and conferences – for example the Choose Life Rally in Trafalgar Square, London in October organised by Celebration of Life. Such we believe would have been enterprises which Bishop John himself would approve and support.