PILGRIM 2000 REPORT McCABE'S MILLENNIUM PROJECT "Pilgrim 2000 is a testimony to the love and support of our fellow Christians in Britain. We value your willingness to stand beside us in these difficult times and we cannot find enough words to thank you. Our friends at McCabes have been consistent supporters and they have the vision to organise pilgrimages which allow you to have fellowship with the Living Stones, to pray together in the holy places and also provide the opportunity for practical support." RT REVD RIAH ABU EL-ASSAL ANGLICAN BISHOP OF JERUSALEM   The aim of Pilgrim 2000 was to make connections between Christians living in Britain and those who live in the Holy Land.  The method was simple: McCabe invited Bishops and other Church Leaders to travel to the Holy Land with a group of pilgrims in order to pray at the holy places, but also to worship alongside local Christians and engage in a partnership, offering practical support to the work of a persecuted church. The pilgrims have travelled, the connections have been made and over £365,000 has been raised for church projects in the Holy Land. We are now in a position to reflect on the project and determine its effectiveness and whether it has fulfilled the objectives that McCabe Pilgrimages set back in 1999.  The aims were described in the brochure Pilgrim 2000: Rediscovering Holy Land Pilgrimage.  This report gives detailed information about the partner churches and their pilgrimages and a record of the funds raised to date for the various projects supported.

THE PROJECTS

The Pilgrim 2000 brochure described 8 projects in detail, including a brief outline of what the money raised would be used for.  The brochure also listed a further 6 projects that would be supported, providing a total of 14 organisations that would benefit. 

The outcome is that of the 14 projects listed, 12 have received the support they were expecting and, in some cases, the figure raised is in excess of expectations.  The two projects which have not received the support that was promised (St Philip's Nursery in Nablus and the Helen Keller School in Jerusalem) were both linked to groups which did not in the end travel because of the political unrest in the Holy Land - the Methodist Church in North-West London and the Diocese of Liverpool.  There were 3 additional projects (not mentioned in the brochure) which were supported and full details are provided below. They are the Childrens Cultural Centre in Bethlehem, the Rawdat Al-Zahur School in Beit Hanina and the Sabeel Centre.

The overall fundraising target was a figure of £500,000.  The current total stands at £365,170.  The figure continues to rise as funds still come in for the projects, particularly given some of the ongoing relationships that have been established.  Unfortunately, seven pilgrimages did not operate because of the Holy Land crisis and this undoubtedly has suppressed the fundraising efforts.  Included within this figure is a total of £16,160 that has been donated by McCabe Pilgrimages.   The detailed information about each project follows.

Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza   

The Ahli Arab Hospital is an institution run by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and is located in the heart of Gaza city.  It is a hospital which operates in difficult circumstances at the best of times, but given the current unrest the needs are even greater and resources even scarcer.  Pilgrim 2000 pledged funds which would enable medical equipment to be purchased and the total provided to date is £10,350.

Oakwood Church £1,250  Worcester pilgrims £400

Cheltenham pilgrims £700  Oxford Diocese £6,500

St Andrews Diocese £1,500

St Luke's Hospital, Nablus

The demands placed on St Luke's Hospital in Nablus are enormous and the resources are limited.  It is run by the Anglican church and offers a range of specialities to the local community, both Christian and Muslim.  St Luke's was supported by the Diocese of Southwell and the final figure is still awaited.

Al Shurooq School, Bethlehem

The Al Shurooq School works hard to educate and offer opportunity to blind children living all over the Palestinian Authority areas.  The school is a simple place offering high quality care and attention, but much in need of support.  The Headteacher, Helen Shehadeh, is blind herself and the school has suffered greatly by being in the heart of an area which has been badly bombed in recent months.  Pilgrim 2000 funds were earmarked to buy furniture for the dormitories and the total raised was £1,850.

Church of Scotland £500 

 McCabe Educational Trust £1,350

Atfaluna Deaf Project, Gaza

Atfaluna is an exciting project to visit - it's bright workshops and classrooms communicate a positive outlook in difficult circumstances and the centre offers essential services for deaf people.  It is the most used facility for the deaf in Gaza.  The Diocese of Sheffield has established an ongoing relationship with Atfaluna and to date has raised £10,500.

Christ Church School, Nazareth

Over the years Christ Church School has grown and developed as it has sought to offer a quality education to children in Nazareth, both Christian and Muslim.  At the outset of Pilgrim 2000 the school asked if it would be possible to raise funds to help build a new library and language laboratory.  In the end, the total amount raised was £62,200.

St Albans Diocese £40,000   Chichester £22,200

Penman Clinic, Zababdeh

The village of Zababdeh is one of only two villages in Palestine where the majority of inhabitants are Christians.  The Anglican Church of St Matthew is set in the heart of the village and underneath the sanctuary there is medical centre known as the Penman Clinic.  This provides a much needed base for doctors and nurses who serve not only Zababdeh itself, but also villagers from the scattered communities in the region.  Through Pilgrim 2000 the Penman Clinic has received donations totalling £25,184.

Salisbury Diocese £10,184  Rochester Diocese £15,000

Holy Family Episcopal Church, Raineh

Raineh lies between Nazareth and Cana.  The aim of Pilgrim 2000 was to provide funds which would enable the refurbishment of nursery classrooms and the provision of new equipment.  This target was met and the new rooms are now complete and include new computers for the children to use.  The project was generously supported by Gloucester Diocese and the total raised was £28,400.

Jeel Al-Amal Boys Home and the Lazarus Project, Bethany

For many years Jeel Al-Amal has been supporting deprived boys from Bethany and beyond.  The vision is now to extend the scope of the work to include girls and the result has been the establishment of the Lazarus Project.  This will provide a separate home for destitute girls and it is already clear that the needs are enormous.  Initially Pilgrim 2000 aimed to raise enough money to support ten children over three years.  However, the target quickly shifted as it was clear that the level of support was going to be much greater than first expected.  The support provided now falls into two categories: funds generated for the ongoing work of Jeel Al-Amal (total £9,200) and money raised to purchase the land that will be used to build the Lazarus Home for Girls (total £99,000)

Gifts for Jeel: Salisbury Diocese £1,000  

Oakwood Church £1,250  Guildford Diocese £6,183  McCabe Educational Trust £767

Gifts for Lazarus Project: Durham Diocese £99,000

Near East Council of Churches, Gaza

The NECC is responsible for a range of health and educational projects in Gaza, acting as an umbrella organisation for all the major Christian denominations.  The target of Pilgrim 2000 was to provide funds that would enable a mobile dental unit to be purchased, equipped and operated.  This facility is now working in the refugee camps in Gaza and provides much needed dental care to people of all ages.  As a result of Pilgrim 2000 the NECC has been pledged £99,300.

Church in Wales - minimum of £95,500 over 5 years Worcester Diocese £3,000  Church of Scotland £500

United Reformed Church £300

Palestinian Agricultural Relief Fund (PARC)

The PARC project has been doing vital work with rural communities in Gaza and the West Bank for many years.  They provide practical advice and training for farmers and promote economic independence for those struggling in difficult conditions.  Many United Reformed Churches support PARC through the 'Commitment for Life' programme and Pilgrim 2000 was used as a means of promoting these connections.  In addition, the URC made an additional grant of £2,000 to PARC.

Sunshine School, Jerusalem

The Sunshine School is appropriately named.  The one image that all visitors to the school take away with them is that of smiling, happy children.  It is situated on the edge of Jerusalem, in an area of high tension and children are often unable to attend because border crossing points are closed.  The McCabe Educational Trust undertook to pay the salary of a teacher over a three year period. 

The total amount raised was £10,443.

Tabeetha School, Jaffa

The Church of Scotland runs the Tabeetha School in Jaffa which was founded in the last century.  It offers education to children from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and was a natural project for the Church of Scotland Pilgrim 2000 group to support.  A donation of £500 was given toward the cost of play equipment.

Helen Keller School, Jerusalem

This school for blind children was the chosen project of the Methodist Church in North-West London. Unfortunately, this pilgrimage had to be cancelled twice because of the unrest in the Holy Land and it was not possible to raise any funds for the project.  The group remains keen to travel and hope to be able to both visit the Holy Land and offer support to the school in 2003.

St Philip's Nursery School, Nablus

This Anglican nursery school was linked with Liverpool Diocese.  Again, the pilgrimage has been cancelled twice and no funds have been raised.  It is hoped that it will be possible for the group to travel in the future.

THREE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS

Rawdat Al-Zahur School, Beit Hanina

The bulk of the funds raised by the Church in Wales were allocated to the support of the Near East Council of Churches in Gaza.  However, the Church also established a link between Church schools in Wales and the Rawdat Al-Zahur School, near Jerusalem.  A minimum of £5,000 has been pledged over 5 years.

Sabeel, Jerusalem

The Sabeel Centre in Jerusalem is a theological research unit which focuses on the role of the Church and Christians in the Holy Land today.  As part of Pilgrim 2000 the United Reformed Church gave a donation of £300 to Sabeel.

Childrens Cultural Centre, Bethlehem

The year 2000 Christmas card appeal from McCabe Pilgrimages and the McCabe Educational Trust was for the Childrens Cultural Centre.  This project provides a much needed space for children in Bethlehem where they can explore art, drama, music and dance.  The Trust was able to make a donation of £943.

THE PARTNERS

When Pilgrim 2000 was launched there was no way of knowing what sort of response would be received.  Given Bishop Riah's involvement the natural starting point was dioceses of the Anglican Church.  The initial invitation was sent out to all diocesan bishops in the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Episcopal Church in Scotland and the Church of Ireland.  However, it was quickly decided to broaden the appeal to cover all the major denominations in the UK.

  Positive responses were received from 12 English dioceses, the Church in Wales nationally (representing 6 dioceses), 1 Scottish diocese, the Church of Scotland nationally, the United Reformed Church nationally and the Methodist church in North-West London.  The form that Pilgrim 2000 took varied from place to place - some organised one large pilgrimage, some two or more departures.  A total of 25 pilgrimages were booked - with 16 of these ultimately operating.  A total of 1,698 pilgrims booked on these tours, though only 1,154 actually travelled because some pilgrimages had to be cancelled.

The Church of Scotland

The Church of Scotland undertook one large pilgrimage in May 2000 which was led by the Rt Revd Andrew McLellan (Moderator of the Church), the Very Revd Sandy McDonald and the Revd John Spiers.  A group of 103 pilgrims travelled and most presbyteries across Scotland were represented.    The Church of Scotland raised a total of £1,500 that was donated to the Al Shurooq School, the NECC and Tabeetha School.

United Reformed Church

The URC had a structured approach to their national pilgrimage in February 2000, with all the participants being nominated by their Provinces and having responsibility to report back on their return.  There were 94 travellers and the pilgrimage was led by the Revd Peter McIntosh (Assembly Moderator), the Revd John Waller (Deputy General Secretary), the Revd Peter Brain, the Revd Philip Woods and the Revd Bill Mahood. Gifts totalling £2,600 were given to the PARC project, the NECC and the Sabeel Centre.

The Church in Wales

The Church in Wales enthusiastically embraced Pilgrim 2000 under the leadership of Archbishop Rowan Williams.  In July 2000 a group of 76 pilgrims was led by the Archbishop, Bishop Barry Morgan, Bishop David Thomas, Mrs Val Martin and Canon Philip Morris.  The group represented all six dioceses that make up the Church in Wales.  The Church has established an ongoing relationship with the NECC and committed itself to a minimum of £95,500 over five years.  Church schools in Wales are also committed to raising at least £5,000 for the Rawdat Al-Zahur School.

Chichester Diocese

A group of 140 pilgrims travelled from Chichester Diocese in May 2000 under the leadership of Bishop Lindsay Urwin, Bishop Wallace Benn and Canon John Ford.  The diocese chose to support Christ Church School in Nazareth in the building of a new language lab and raised funds totalling £22,200.

Durham Diocese

Two pilgrimages to the Holy Land were planned by Durham Diocese, though the second had to be cancelled due to the unrest in the Holy Land.  The group that travelled (September 2000) numbered 157 pilgrims and was led by Bishop Michael Turnbull and the Revd Kevin Dunne.  The one that cancelled had 45 people booked and was due to be led by Bishop Alan Smithson in May 2001.  The diocese committed itself to raising funds for the Lazarus Project for Girls in Bethany.  This partnership is ongoing and the total amount collected to date stands at £99,000.

Gloucester Diocese

The Diocese of Gloucester chose to operate four pilgrimages.  The first was led by Bishop David Bentley and Canon Adrian Slade in April 2000 and the group numbered 45 pilgrims.  The second was led by the Very Revd Nick Bury in June 2000 and there were 24 pilgrims.  The third group was due to travel in August 2000 under the leadership of Archdeacon Christopher Wagstaff but was cancelled due to a lack of numbers.  The fourth group was being led by Bishop John Went in October 2000 but was cancelled due to the unrest in the Holy Land - 78 pilgrims were booked to travel.  Gloucester Diocese supported the Holy Family Church in Raineh to the tune of £28,400.

Guildford Diocese

In September 2000 Bishop Ian Brackley led a group of 42 pilgrims to the Holy Land from the Diocese of Guildford.  Given the subsequent unrest, this was actually the last Pilgrim 2000 group to travel.  Jeel Al-Amal Boys Home in Bethany was chosen as the project to be supported and a total of £6,183 was donated.

Rochester Diocese

Rochester Diocese was one of the first dioceses to respond positively to the Pilgrim 2000 invitation and immediately decided to organise 3 pilgrimages.  The first in April 2000 was led by Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali and numbered 48 pilgrims.  The second departure was due to be led by Archdeacon Judith Rose in June 2000, but was cancelled due to a lack of numbers.  The third pilgrimage was led by Bishop Brian Smith in September 2000 and there were 49 pilgrims.  The diocese raised £15,000 for the Penman Clinic in Zababdeh.

St Albans Diocese

The first St Albans pilgrimage of 114 pilgrims was in May 2000 and was led by Bishop Christopher Herbert, Bishop John Richardson, Archdeacon Malcolm Lesiter, Canon Patience Purchas, Captain Andy Crooks and Mr Meric and Mrs Anne Jenkins. The second pilgrimage in August 2000 numbered 25 pilgrims and was led by Archdeacon Trevor Jones and the Revd Derwyn Williams.  The diocese raised £40,000 in support of Christ Church School in Nazareth.

Salisbury Diocese

One pilgrimage was operated from Salisbury Diocese in March 2000 and there were 81 pilgrims.  The group was led by Bishop David Stancliffe, Mr Chris Love, the Revd Michael Ridley, the Revd Stephen Lake and the Revd Henry Pearson.  The diocese offered support to the Penman Clinic in Zababdeh and Jeel Al-Amal Boys Home in Bethany which totalled £11,184.

Sheffield Diocese

A group of 94 pilgrims from Sheffield Diocese travelled to the Holy Land in May 2002.  The leadership was shared between a number of senior Church leaders and was headed by Bishop Jack Nicholls.  The diocese was keen to support work with deaf people and chose the Atfaluna Project in Gaza.  To date the diocese has raised £10,500.

Southwell Diocese

The first diocesan Pilgrim 2000 group travelled from Southwell Diocese in February 2000.  The party numbered 62 pilgrims and was led by the Very Revd David Leaning, Canon Fred Green and Canon Andrew Woodsford. The project chosen was St Luke's Hospital in Nablus and we await a final total from the diocese.

McCabe Educational Trust

The McCabe Educational Trust organised a pilgrimage to the Holy Land which covered the night of the Millennium itself. A group of 27 pilgrims travelled under the leadership of the Revd Peter Hammersley, the Revd Elizabeth Sutherland and the Revd Effie Irvine.  As part of Pilgrim 2000 the Trust has raised funds for the Sunshine School, the Al-Shurooq School, Jeel al-Amal Boys Home and the Childrens Cultural Centre totalling £13,503.

PILGRIMAGES CANCELLED DUE TO THE SITUATION IN THE HOLY LAND

St Andrews Diocese

The Diocese of St Andrews has been frustrated twice in its efforts to travel to the Holy Land - first in November 2000, then again in November 2001.  The pilgrimage was due to be led by Bishop Michael Henley and Canon Roger Devonshire and there were 55 pilgrims booked to travel.  The diocese has been able to send donations totalling £1,500 to the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza.

Liverpool Diocese

The pilgrimage from Liverpool Diocese was due to take place in March 2001 with 39 pilgrims, but unfortunately had to be cancelled (and has now also been cancelled for March 2002).  Originally the group would have been led by Bishop John Packer and Archdeacon Bob Metcalf.  The intention was to offer support to St Philip's Nursery in Nablus, but unfortunately the pilgrimage cancellations also meant cancellation of fundraising plans.

Oxford Diocese

A group of 116 pilgrims was due to travel to the Holy Land from Oxford Diocese in September 2001.  The pilgrimage was to have been led by Bishop Dominic Walker and Bishop Mike Hill.  Despite the cancellation some fundraising was possible and a gift totalling £6,500 has been sent to the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza.

Methodist Church

The Methodist Church in North-West London had a party of 82 pilgrims which was due to travel in November 2000 and then again in November 2001.  The pilgrimage would have been led by the Revd Garth Rogers, the Revd Vaughan Tong and the Revd Sue Roberts, but sadly both tours have been cancelled.  It was impossible to embark on fundraising so unfortunately there has been no support forthcoming for the Helen Keller School for the Blind.

Worcester Diocese

Worcester Diocese has also had to cancel its pilgrimage twice, first in October 2000, then again in October 2001.  The diocese had 74 pilgrims due to travel under the leadership of Bishop Peter Selby and Bishop Michael Lewis.  Though the group did not travel, the diocese made a donation of £3,000 to the work of the NECC. In addition 4 passengers who were due to travel donated their deposits to the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza - totalling £400.

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