The Diocese’ Lent Project, called “Empowering Women In Papau New Guinea” encourages sacrificial giving to fund HIV/AIDS education, women’s literacy, and the purchase of sewing machines to enable income generation in the predominantly Christian country. 

The Norfolk link with the church in Papua New Guinea originates from the Rev David Hand, a missionary from Tatterford near Fakenham, who became the first Archbishop of Papau New Guinea on becoming an independent province of the Anglican Communion in 1977.

Talking about Lent, The Rt Revd Jonathan Meyrick, Bishop of Lynn said: “Traditionally, we seek to enhance our mental and spiritual preparation with discipline: by giving up something that we value and enjoy but which is for us something of a luxury, and by doing something extra.

“Both of these can be focussed in some extra charitable giving – often the value of the luxury we are doing without.  This year in our diocese we have a common focus for that act of giving through our link with the church in Papua New Guinea.  I urge us all to respond generously to that.”