Retired Evangelist steps out for 75th birthday challenge

News Release: 27 September 2012

A retired Church Army Evangelist from Somerset is celebrating after walking from Reading to Bath to raise money for Church Army.

Peggy Boynes, from Bath, walked 76 miles along the Kennet and Avon Canal - a mile for each year of her life plus an extra one for good measure.

A number of supporters joined Peggy along the way despite all the storms and bad weather. Peggy finished the walk by attending evening prayer at Bath Abbey where the congregation prayed for the work of Church Army. Mission Support Officer, Beth Burras, and Deputy Chief Executive, Des Scott, were there to meet her.

Peggy said: "I began working as a Church Army Evangelist in 1960 and since then have always looked for opportunities to raise awareness about its work. The walk has been lovely but challenging at the same time – especially the last two miles each day! I met lots of people along the way and was able to chat and pray with them.

"The money that I've raised will be donated to a Church Army project in Derbyshire which supports more than 60 homeless people each week by using a double decker bus as a drop-in. Alan Park, who leads the project, and his 40 volunteers, provide people with food and refreshments, toiletries, clothes and a listening ear. They are doing great work!"

Peggy was commissioned as a Church Army Evangelist by the Church of England in 1960 and over the years has worked as a children's missioner, in homes for the elderly and as the Diocesan Evangelist in Coventry and Chelmsford.

If you would still like to sponsor Peggy, you can do online or contact Church Army's Mission Support Officer, Beth Burras, on 0300 123 2113.