MEMBERS of a Pendle congregation are aiming to walk to Bethlehem without leaving the country.

Members of St John's and St Philip's, Nelson, are planning to walk the equivalent of the distance between Nelson and Bethlehem, 2,725 miles, in stages during sponsored events to raise money for the new St John's Church.

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Reverend Alan Chesters, will officially launch the "Walk to Bethlehem" project tomorrow when a team of walkers will set off from Blackburn Cathedral along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to Nelson.

St John's and St Philip's was made a joint parish when the former St John's Church, Barkerhouse Road, was demolished last year because of structural faults.

Work has started on a new church on the same site. Last week a foundation stone was laid and the steelwork for the combined church and community centre is taking shape. The £406,000 project is expected to be completed by next May.

Organisers of the fund-raising push will put up a map in St Philip's Church showing the route from Nelson to the Middle East and the progress of the walkers as they hold various events.

"We are hoping that people will come forward and offer to walk the distance between various towns on the map and get sponsorship at the same time," explained Rosemary Hartley, wife of the vicar, the Reverend Stewart Hartley.

"The total is cumulative so, for example, if two people walk ten miles we will count that as 20 miles along the route."

The church has already raised a significant amount towards the cost of the new building and is aiming to raise a further £40,000. It is hoped money from the walk will be gathered in time to incorporate a presentation ceremony into the traditional Christmas Eve service.

Anyone interested in a sponsored walk for the project or in sponsoring the walks is asked to contact Mr or Mrs Hartley on 01282 698161.

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