MEMBERS of the parish churches in the Ashwater and Black Torrington Benefice have raised more than £1,000 in support for victims of the COVID virus in India.

Churches in the former Ashwater Benefice had developed links with Indian churches through one of their Licensed Lay Ministers, Dr Trevor May, who has visited the country more than a dozen times in recent years. Several Indian pastors have visited North Devon, and over time have cemented a relationship between the two countries.

The initiative to raise support for Indian village people, who even before the pandemic were living in great poverty, was taken by Richard Prior, churchwarden of Beaworthy church.

Dr May said: “Once he started the ball rolling, contributions soon started coming in. Things moved fast, and within a couple of weeks support was sent to three centres in the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

“The funds have already arrived in India and are being spent on emergency food parcels including rice, dal and cooking oil, together with hand sanitizers and face masks. Amongst the first to receive help were a number of people who are also living with leprosy.”

Contributions continue to come in, and it is hoped to send further aid in the future.