A RECTOR from Barry is getting on his bike to cycle around the diocese – and visit as many churches as he can – in three-and-a-half days.

Father Ben Andrews, of St Mary’s Church, in Holton Road, will embark on his cycling pilgrimage on Easter Tuesday, April 23.

The mission forms part of his preparations for Llandaff Diocese’s Year of Pilgrimage in 2020.

He is aiming to raise funds for various building projects in four churches in Barry, help buy new tents for young pilgrims from Llandaff attending this year’s Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage in August and support the Rectorial Benefice of Aberavon in their £350,000 fundraising drive for the St Mary’s Restoration Appeal.

Fr Andrews said: “I’m really looking forward to it as it’s something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time and it will also be my cycling challenge for the year.”

Fr Ben cycled 150 miles from St David’s to Barry, in three days, as part of a fundraising drive for a new roof at All Saints, Barry, two years ago.

The challenge will see him leave St Mary’s Church, in Barry, heading past St Cadoc’s to St Peters, Dinas Powys, then up to Llandough, Llandaff, Grangetown and the centre of Cardiff.

The next day he will journey from St Mary’s Church out to Whitchurch, Tongwynlais, Pontypridd, Abercynon and Penrhiwciber.

The following day he will cycle to Aberaman, Aberdare, Hirwaun, the Neath Valley, Baglan and Aberavon.

In his final day in the saddle he will ride from Port Talbot to Margam, Pyle, Laleston, Ewenny, Llantwit Major and back to Barry in time for tea.

Follow Fr Ben’s progress daily on Twitter @FrBennyBoy .

To support emailfrbenandrews@aol.com