Priest to walk the length of Algarve

The Revd Bob Bates (left), chaplain at St Vincent’s Anglican parish in Algarve, Portugal, is going to undertake a 260 km walk across the Algarve, from East to West, this May. The purpose of the walk is to raise funds for the St Vincent’s Home for mentally and physically disabled children and adults, a local charity which is in need of financial support. Fr Bob will set out on 28 April for a walk that will take about 7 days, following what is believed to be the original pilgrim trail of St Vincent, also known as the Moçarbe Way. He will finish at Cape St Vincent on the westernmost fringe of Europe. The Anglican Church in Algarve has St Vincent as its patron, so there is a natural link with the Portuguese charity, and Fr Bob hopes that the walk will also be a good way to highlight the presence of the Church of England in this part of Portugal.

Fr Bob is an experienced walker having completed the final 220 miles of the Camino de Santiago from the city of León to Santiago de Compostella last year.

If you are interested in helping to sponsor the fund-raising walk, you can make contact through this link. Please hold Fr Bob in our prayers. St Vincent’s website is here.

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