Bishop's urgent appeal for Covid-19 aid in Leicester's Indian link diocese

Bishop Martyn is asking for urgent financial support for our partners in India.  We are hoping to help them purchase a new ambulance, oxygen concentrators, a ventilator and other equipment costing a total of £80,000.  Details of how to contribute are given below.

The Bishop of our partner diocese, Trichy-Tanjore in the Church of South India (CSI), has written to describe the response of Christians in their region to the Covid-19 crisis which is sweeping India with devastating effect. Cases of infection have been increasing day by day and hospitals are short of beds, oxygen supplies and medication to treat the symptoms of Covid and other infections to which people, weakened by the virus, are falling prey.  With the country in lockdown, schools and colleges are shut and people in many places are literally starving for lack of access to food.  Regrettably, many church members, including two pastors in the diocese, have died and many more are in hospital receiving treatment.

In spite of all this, the Church is taking lot of effort and organizing relief work in partnership with Bishop Heber College in Trichy.  The ‘Task Force against Covid 19’ works day and night to coordinate information about hospital bed availability, oxygen, food, ambulance services, counselling, prayer support, financial support, plasma availability and support for funerals. There has been a good response from the community for which they are very grateful to God.

The Diocese has come forward to open food counters in each local church where food packets are kept at the entrance of the church for people who are hungry and needy to take. Facilities at the two CSI Mission Hospitals in the Diocese, in Trichy and Dharapuram have been dedicated for the treatment of Covid Patients and work is in hand to increase the number of beds available.

If you are able to make a contribution, however large or small, please send it to the following account:

Barclays Bank plc

Sort code: 20-49-37

Account number: 90577103

Account name: Leicester Diocesan Board of Finance

Please use the reference: ‘Trichy Appeal’

Cheques can be sent for the attention of Jim Pullen at St Martins House, 7 Peacock Lane, Leicester, LE1 1SY.  Please make your cheque payable to ‘Leicester Diocesan Board of Finance’ and write on the back ‘Trichy Appeal’.

You can also gift aid your donation by filling in the relevent form which can be downloaded here.

Meanwhile, please remember the people of India, especially our partners in Trichy, in your prayers.