A CHARITY organ recital held at St John’s has swelled funds to boost the battle to save hundreds of thousands of lives each year.

The recital, on Saturday 19 September, was performed by Andrew Bryden, one of England’s foremost organists and Director of Music at Ripon Cathedral. The £500 raised through ticket sales will go to WaterAid, our church’s chosen Harvest Festival charity.

The money will help the charity’s stated mission of providing fresh, clean water to millions of people.

WaterAid’s website, http://www.wateraid.org/uk stated that in 2014 they helped provide two million people with access to safe water and three million with improved sanitation.

The charity also report that an estimated 500,000 children die each year from diarrhoea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.

Robin, our Rector, thanked those that attended and said St John’s was playing its part in helping such a worthwhile cause. He wished to point out that collections at services on Harvest Festival Sunday at St John’s, including a special Choral Evensong*, will also be given to WaterAid.

He said: ‘We thank the Lord for the Harvest at this time of year and pray for those parts of the world where there is no Harvest – parts of the world where the work of WaterAid is helping.’

* Please note the start time of Harvest Festival Choral Evensong will be announced early in the week before the service.