Leading clerics from across the Clogher Diocese will be wrapping up warm over the next few weeks as they prepare for 12-hour charity sit outs.

Yesterday, (Wednesday, December 14), Archdeacon Brian Harper took part in his annual charity sit out at the gates of Magheracross Parish Church, Main Street, Ballinamallard alongside his colleague in Ballinamallard Methodist Church, Rev. John Beacom. Their sit out took place from 8am to 8pm. The pair contended with freezing temperatures as the County faced a cold spell this week.

The charity sit-out this year was in support of Tear Fund and its work with Ukrainian aid agencies and the Water Drops project, building water storage tanks in Kajiado diocese where drought is a major problem.

Later this month, on Thursday, December 22, Dean Kenneth Hall will take part in his first charity sit out at the gates of St. Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen from 9am to 9pm for local, national and international charities.

The charities supported by the Dean’s sit out include Water Drops, a charity run by Ronnie and Maggie Briggs who have 40 years’ experience of living and working amongst the Maasai community in the Kajiado Diocese of Kenya where they worked as mission partners with CMS Ireland. Another charity supported is Air Ambulance NI which provides the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service for the region. The final charity supported is St Macartin’s Cathedral Outreach Fund helping to fund groups such as Parenting and Wellbeing, Messy Church, Xplore, Supper at Six and Senior Citizens.

The following day, the Rev Johnny McLoughlin of Aghavea Parish Church will be sitting out on December 23 from 9am to 9pm. Annoucing his sit-out, Rev. Johnny said: "I am going to sit out in front of the Lady Brooke Memorial Hall in Brookeborough to raise much needed funds for local charities and for the food banks. Every penny will be spent supporting important local charities. This is a cross community effort, and I hope to be joined by other colleagues throughout the day. We will finish the evening with a Carol sing-along."

Rev Johnny has also launched a go-fund-me page which can be accessed via https://tinyurl.com/n9tmy3p5.