Did you know that Walsall is an island? Yes, it's completely surrounded by water - check it on a map. The West Midlands canal system extends all the way round without a break. So Church Warden Graham Hird and the Reverend Colin Gibson from St Matthew's Church Walsall have decided to go for a walk round Walsall's coastline, setting off on Tuesday 15 July.
Graham and Colin want to raise money for the St Matthew's Festival on 18-28 September. The Festival has the theme Celebrating Walsall and it will include rock, jazz and choral concerts, a graffiti project, a large scale work of art on the church spire (Arts Council grant permitting), a production by Saltmine Theatre Co and much more!
The aim of the Festival is to help St Matthew's reconnect with the community. It's a splendidly conspicuous church up on its hilltop overlooking Walsall but that same prominent position has also left it rather isolated and cut off from local people. Key dates in the timing of the Festival are St Matthew's Day (21 September) and Back to Church Sunday (28 September) and it is hoped that it will also attract many people back to church.
Colin says, "For me, our 16 mile walk highlights the theme of the Festival, which is Celebrating Walsall. Walking all the way round our Borough will help to focus my thoughts and prayers on the community we're here to serve".
Putting the Festival on will be expensive! Although some costs will be recouped through grants and ticket sales, St Matthew's will still need to fork out for many of them, and for publicity. So Graham and Colin aim to raise at least £1,000 for the Festival. If anyone wants to contribute, e-mail St Matthew's Office on stmatthewscentre@tiscali.co.uk
In case you were wondering, Graham and Colin wish to point out that they intend to stick to the towpath...
