THIS year’s Church Times Train-A-Priest (TAP) Fund appeal to assist ordinands in Africa has so far raised more than £10,000. This is a cheerful start after less than four weeks, and it comes to one quarter of the 2020 total.

It is just a start, though. We are acutely aware of the other demands on readers’ finances. We do not believe, however, that the Government is right to assume that concern for people overseas has fallen away during the pandemic.

The people whom we are trying to help, the next generation of priests across Africa, have been hit at least as hard by the pandemic as people in the UK, without anything like the same government support to fall back on.

What you give to TAP Africa could be all that an ordinand has to fund his or her training. Please give generously, so that this year we can offer assistance to even more ordinands, working with our partner, the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa.

How to donate to the TAP Fund

Every penny that you give goes to ordinands in Africa who face financial difficulty, to support them as they complete their training. Nothing is retained to cover administrative expenses, here or in Africa.

Donate online, quickly and securely. This is our preferred method: www.churchtimes.co.uk/train-a-priest-fund.

But you can also give by cheque or charity voucher. Please make cheques payable to: “The TAP Fund” and send to: TAP Fund, Church Times, Hymns Ancient & Modern, 13a Hellesdon Road, Norwich NR6 5DR.

If you are a UK payer of income or capital gains tax, the Church Times, through the Hymns Ancient & Modern charity, can recover 25p for every £1 that you give through Gift Aid. If you are eligible, please indicate this when making an online donation, or complete the form in last week’s paper and send it with your cheque.