Leamington priest set for Holy Land

Buy photos » Set for a trip to the Holy Land - The reverend Graham Coles of St Mary Magdalene's Church in Lillington. (s)

A PRIEST from Leamington is set to embark on a trip to the Holy Land of Jerusalem and Palestine.

The reverend Graham Coles, of St Mary Magdalene's Church in Lillington, sets off on Thursday (January 26) for a two-week visit to the troubled region to see what life is really like for the people there.

Mr Coles has part funded the trip himself through a sponsored cycle ride and donations, with the rest of the cash provided by the Coventry diocese. He will be joined by a curate from Coventry, the reverend Stella Bailey from the parish of St Mary Magdalene’s in Hearsall Lane.

Their hosts will include a Syrian Orthodox monastery and the Anglican cathedral in Jerusalem. They also plan visit two places on the West Bank which are open to all races and religions - a school in Ramallah and a farm called the ‘Tent of Nations’ - along with other well-known Biblical sites.

Mr Coles said he was looking forward to gaining a mental picture of the places he preaches about each week, adding: “I also want to find out what it is like to be a Christian where Christianity is a minority religion, and to talk to people living out their lives in an occupied land.”

Mr Coles takes up a post as priest-in-charge of Cubbington Parish Church later this year.