Diocesan Press Release

Millennium Countdown
Bishop lights candle for freedom from debt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  13 November 1998

400 days before the Millennium, on Sunday November 15, the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Tom Butler, will light the Jubilee 2000 Candle in Southwark Cathedral. The candle will burn daily as a focus for prayer for people in the world's poorest countries enslaved in unrepayable debt.

The dedication of the Jubilee Candle, appropriately sited in the St Francis Chapel, will be at approximately 4.15pm. Present will be representatives from Christian Aid and the Jubilee 2000 coalition. It follows 3.00pm Choral Evensong, when the Bishop will preach and special prayers will be said to mark the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Organisation.

Canon Bruce Saunders, Canon Missioner in the Diocese of Southwark, says "By this small symbolic act we hope to play a part in the international Jubilee 2000 campaign. We want to remind people of the need to pray for the millions trapped in cycles of poverty from which they can never free themselves and we want to keep encouraging the Government to fulfil its pledge to work for debt release by the year 2000."

Ends.