St. George's Church

St. George's Parish Church,
Littleport, Cambridgeshire

ST. GEORGE'S PARISH CHURCH

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BISHOP ‘GEORGE’ IS TO VISIT
ALL 42 OF THE ENGLISH DIOCESAN
CATHEDRALS IN 42 DAYS

Escorted by our Sacristan, 73 year old Lennie Prigg

To see more about the Tower Project click HERE

MY PROGRESS
Keep watching to see which Cathedrals I have visited

This is me, in the middle, with Bishop Stephen on the left and my escort, Lennie on the right.
Ely Cathedral is in the background in case you didn't know.

ELY - my starting point

Before I commenced my travels, Lennie took me to see Bishop Stephen, who is the Bishop of Ely, just 5 miles from Littleport
(see the picture on the left). He prayed that we would have safe journeys and wished us well. He was a lot taller than me,
he was taller than Lennie, I think that he is taller than everybody!

Monday 1st October -
My First Day - It was really exciting getting on the train for the first time, everyone was so helpful, Lennie is looking after
me so well. We visited the Cathedrals in Carlisle, Durham and Newcastle. Look out for the photos when I get them developed.

Tuesday 2nd October -
Just an easy day today as I am quite tired. We made our way to Ripon and met some nice people there.

Wednesday 3rd October -
Up bright and early and managed 3 more Cathedrals - Blackburn, Bradford and Wakefield. These trains are wonderful
inventions.

Thursday 4th October -
Today I am off to Rochester and Canterbury - I wonder if I will get to see the Archbishop?

Monday 8th October -
I've had a long weekend to rest as Lennie is busy at Church on Saturdays and Sundays but he got me up at an unearthly
hour this morning to catch the early train. It was a fast train and we were soon at Chester where we met the Dean, who
used to be at Ely. Lennie had quite a long chat here but we did manage to also visit Lichfield and Birmingham.

Tuesday 9th October -
I think that I am getting the hang of this travelling lark and quite enjoying it. The target today was 3 Cathedrals and we
successfully visited Portsmouth, Chichester and Salisbury. It was raining in the south today and I got a bit wet, my wool
took ages to dry. Have got the rest of the week off as Lennie will be busy in Ely Cathedral getting ready for their
Harvest Weekend displays. At least I can have a rest.

Monday 15th October -
The start of my third week and seventh day (eight if you count Ely as the first) so that means, with 16 cathedrals
already visited, I am well on the way to my target. I'm told that sponsorships are doing well but there is always room for
more as I would love to smash my £1000 goal. Lennie and I have enjoyed a superb sunny day today as we travelled
to Hereford and what a truly lovely welcome we had there and then on to Worcester. I'm pleased that Lennie knows
all about trains as it seems so complicated trying to find the right platform, you can easily get lost.

Tuesday 16th October -
Our first Cathedral today was at Liverpool, Lennie told be that the beetles come from here. We then went on to
Manchester, I'm sure that I saw some beetles here as well. Am having a bit of a sleep on the way home as I am tired.

Wednesday 17th October -
Lennie woke me up at an unearthly hour this morning saying, "the sooner we get started, the sooner we will finish".
With that we caught a very early train and headed for our first call of the day which was Oxford, the cathedral was a
little difficult to find but we managed it in the end. From there we journeyed on to Gloucester. Lennie tells me that we
are now over half way in our visits.

Thursday 18th October -
We had great plans for today but they were fraught with disaster. All was well as we travelled to St. Albans and had a
good look around; however, when I went to look for Lennie, he had disappeared. The kind people at St. Albans made
me comfortable in one of the offices and I sat down to wait. Apparently Lennie got all the way to Derby before he
missed me and had to rush back. I think he was quite worried but I had enjoyed a quiet day resting. It does mean that
we will have to return to Derby another day.

Monday 22nd October -
It was a grey foggy day today but this did not dampen our spirits as we are really enjoying ourselves. Our first visit was to
Sheffield and then on to York. Apparently York Minster is one of the finest gothic cathedrals in the world - it certainly
looked big to me. As we were making good time we stopped off to vist the cathedtral at Peterborough, I kept looking
out for Peter but didn't find him anywhere.

Tuesday 23rd October -
Lennie told me that we were going to Bath today so I packed a towel and my swimming trunks and off we went. The Cathedral
was really lovely but we didn't have a lot of time to spare as we wanted to visit Bristol as well which we managed to do
without any hitches.

Wednesday 24th October - 
We made our way to Derby today, Lennie said it was a bit of Déjà vu but I didn't know what he was talking about, I don't
think I've been here before. After that it was on to Leicester - a good cheese day today. As we had a bit of time to spare
we called in to Coventry, apparently some people are sent here but we went of our own accord. They had a special
exhibition on in the cathedral so we had our photograph taken outside.

Thursday 25th October -
Lennie was making us porridge this morning when the microwave suddenly stopped working so we had to make do with
toast. We caught the train from Ely and made our way to Chelmsford cathedral where Lennie took photographs of me as
he usually does and then he said we were going to Bury St. Edmunds. We visited the Cathedral where we met the
Verger but it looked as though someone had already buried Saint Edmund as we couldn't find him anywhere.

Monday 29th October - 
A start to another week and Lennie tells me that we have only 9 more Cathedrals to visit to complete our task.  We have
been travelling south today, so Lennie tells me, and made our way to Winchester where we encountered a problem. The
Cathedral was having scaffolding erected inside and they had to close for the day, however, Lennie is very persistent and
a kind lady introduced us to a member of the clergy who was able to sign my passport and arrange for a photograph to
prove that we had been. We then moved on to Guildford where we met with some lovely people who had a long chat
with me, I think Lennie felt a bit left out.

Tuesday 30th October -
Today we are off to the Cathedral at Southwell (pronounced Suthell, so Lennie tells me) and it is the Cathedral Church of
Nottinghamshire. We travelled to Newark by train  and then caught a bus, I haven't got a bus pass but Lennie has so I had
to go in his bag. The Cathedral at Lincoln was our next stop and waiting at the station for me were three members of our
congregation. They have friends in Lincoln who picked us up and took us to their home for some lunch.
What a lovely spread, I think that I ate too much as my cassock now feels very tight.

Monday 5th November -
After resting for most of last week (Lennie has lots of other things to do) we are about to start a real adventure. We are
visiting a Cathedral that is the furthest away from where we live and it will be a long train journey and we will have to stay
away overnight. Our first visit is to the Catheral at Truro in Cornwall, I got a bit bored on the journey and I am glad that we
have, at last, arrived. We then began our journey home and have stopped off in Exeter for the night. It's all very nice but
I must admit I am feeling a little homesick.

Tuesday 6th November - 
We both had a lovely night's sleep in very comfortable beds, Lennie tucked me in and took a photograph, I wonder what
it will look like. In the morning we were served a super breakfast before making our way to Exeter Cathedral which was
just a short walk from the guest house. What a beautiful Cathedral, Lennie was quite overawed. We are now safely back
home and looking forward to a few days off from our travels which we will continue next Monday - only 3 more Cathedrals to go.

Monday 12th November -
I suppose you have already heard that I have not been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, I don't think that I
even made the short list. However, I am not concerned as today we have been to London, my first visit to the capital,
and was made to feel like a V.I.P. (Very Important Person Lennie tells me and not Very Important Puppet as someone
else was heard to say). We arrived at St. Paul's Cathedral and was immediately whisked passed the queues of people
waiting to pay to go in and was taken on a special guided tour. It was then on to Southwark where we were given another
grand welcome. Lennie wanted to take me to see the Houses of Parliament and, at the Sovereign's Entrance, a kind
police lady allowed us to take a photograph. What an exciting day, I probably won't be able to sleep tonight.

Tuesday 13th November -
Our final day and we are off to Norwich Cathedral. It appears that we were expected today as they brought out the big
guns! As soon as Lennie announced our arrival there was a Canon there to greet us and give us a warm welcome.
Earlier, when someone suggested we did 42 Cathedrals in 42 days, I thought it would not be possible but we have
managed to do it in half the time. We arrived back in Ely to find a (very) small welcoming committee from the church,
what a nice surprise.

We have both enjoyed ourselves but it has been quite tiring, especially for Lennie as he is much older than me! I am 
beginning to wonder what I will be doing now this is all over, someone has suggested that I write a book all about my
travels but we will have to see. I must admit than I am looking forward to having a good rest.

This is me with Lennie
outside Hereford Cathedral

I'm not sure I like it up here!!

Lennie and me safely back in Ely

Is this sign very large or am I small?

Each Sunday the Vicar gives a box of Smarties to anyone celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion. I received mine for visiting all of the 42 Cathedrals.
I suspect that Lennie will help me eat them.

MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED ME

A TOTAL OF £2,489.08 WAS RAISED