The Holy Bikers rev in to town for charity

The Holy Bikers called into Lisburn Cathedral their first stop on an epic 10-day charity bike run around Ireland.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Aug 2014, 09:46 BST
The first stop for the Bikers on a Mission was Lisburn Cathedral. Pictured outside the cathedral are, from left: Rev Andrew McCoskery; Jan de Vries of the United Society; the Very Rev John Bond, Dean of Connor; Canon Sam Wright, Lisburn Cathedral; Rev Nigel Kirkpatrick and Canon George Irwin, Ballymacash.The first stop for the Bikers on a Mission was Lisburn Cathedral. Pictured outside the cathedral are, from left: Rev Andrew McCoskery; Jan de Vries of the United Society; the Very Rev John Bond, Dean of Connor; Canon Sam Wright, Lisburn Cathedral; Rev Nigel Kirkpatrick and Canon George Irwin, Ballymacash.
The first stop for the Bikers on a Mission was Lisburn Cathedral. Pictured outside the cathedral are, from left: Rev Andrew McCoskery; Jan de Vries of the United Society; the Very Rev John Bond, Dean of Connor; Canon Sam Wright, Lisburn Cathedral; Rev Nigel Kirkpatrick and Canon George Irwin, Ballymacash.

Two Church of Ireland clergymen stepped out of their pulpits and with a rev of horsepower roared away from St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on August 1, earlier that morning at the start of a fundraising challenge dubbed ‘Bikers on a Mission.’

The Rev Nigel Kirkpatrick and the Rev Andrew McCroskery have donned both helmets and dog collars for this epic ride to every cathedral in the Church of Ireland in aid of the work of the United Society (formerly USPG).

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From August 1-10 Nigel, rector of Gilnahirk in Belfast, and Andrew, rector of St Bartholomew’s and Christ Church Leeson Park in Dublin, will bike it to all 30 Church of Ireland cathedrals, from Lisburn to Limerick and from Clogher to Cork.

At each cathedral, Nigel and Andrew will join or lead a short service with prayers for the United Society and particularly their work in Swaziland.

Their 1500 mile ride zig-zags across the whole island and concludes back at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast at 3.30pm on Sunday August 10, 2014.

Nigel explained why the two rectors felt inspired to organise this innovative fundraising challenge for the United Society.

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“We’re both passionate about motorcycling,” he explained, “and also about the work of the United Society among the people of Swaziland, one of the poorest countries in the world with the highest rate of HIV infection per capita.

“In this 300th anniversary year of the United Society, we felt that riding motorbikes across the country, visiting every cathedral would be a novel way to honour their work, highlight the very crucial projects in Swaziland and raise some money.

“An added bonus is that we will be drawing attention to ancient ecclesiastical places in Ireland that many people will not have heard of.

“Plus we get to ride motorbikes for ten days.”

If you would like to support the charitable cause, donations can be sent to Linda Chambers, Egan House, St Michan’s Church, Church Street, Dublin 7.

Alternatively, donations can be made online through the donate button on Linda’s United Society blog at lindaatuspg.blogspot.ie

Related topics:IrelandBelfast