Local priest completes pilgrimage on foot to his 27 churches

A LOCAL priest has completed an epic challenge visiting all 27 of his churches on foot in a single weekend.

Reverend Jeremy Putnam, Crediton Benefice associate priest and team missioner for the Crediton and North Creedy Ministry Team, was "beating the bounds", visiting 27 village churches across the Crediton benefice, covering a 62 miles in just two days.

Jeremy said after his challenge, completed on Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2: “There were so many good reasons to do this walk over the weekend. For me, it highlighted the very special village communities surrounding our historic market town of Crediton. Right at the heart of every one of these places stands a church that captures our sense of place, our shared story, and our hope.

“I walked to raise funds for our shared mission and ministry costs, but also to mark the fact that these 20 parishes, 27 church buildings, and the faithful Christian communities they represent are now part of a newly formed benefice.

“As a new family of churches serving the area, they have decided to work, minister, pray, and share the good news of the Gospel together.

“It is an effort to reflect the words of St Paul: ‘So in Christ we, though many, are one body, and each member belongs to all the others’.

“I think that's excellent news for the spiritual health of our communities and the ongoing Christian character of our shared life."

“I want to express my real thanks for the wonderful support and the money we've managed to raise; our best guess is about £3,500 to £4,000 has been raised, we are still gathering it in. And a special thank you as well to everyone who accompanied me along various stages of the route—your company meant a great deal."

To donate, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/62mile-27-churches-serving-our-rural-villages