Runner to raise £800,000 one pound at a time 

THE Youth and Children’s Minister at St Jude’s in Plymouth, Matt Gorton, is running in the next London Marathon to raise £800,000 towards converting his church’s Grade II Victorian building into a worship centre — but is refusing donations of more than £1 per sponsor, writes Paul Wilkinson. Mr Gorton, 31, wants to inspire 800,000 people to support the role of churches. “Running the marathon is the easy bit. Raising up 800,000 people is the serious part,” he said. To donate, text JUDE11 £1 to 70070 or visit: https://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/stjudes-plymouth/onepoundmarathon

Barnabas Fund founding leader replaced 

THE Barnabas Fund has a new leadership team after the resignation of its founder and chief executive, Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, who has been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault (News, 27 November). The charity, which supports persecuted Christians overseas, has named the former Chaplain in Baghdad, Canon Andrew White, and Baroness Cox as its new patrons, and the Marquess of Reading (former patron) as its chair. A new chief executive officer and chief operating officer (businessmen Hendrik Storm and Allan Lee Jr respectively) have also been appointed.