A Co Armagh Rector will be travelling to every corner of Northern Ireland on a tractor in aid of a charity close to his parish's heart.
Rev William Orr, the Rector of St Mark's in Portadown, will embark on a 12 day trip across the country in a New Holland tractor, visiting every Church of Ireland building in NI.
After church service on Sunday, May 22, the 'Rector in a Tractor' will set off to raise vital funds ahead of St Mark's 200th anniversary in 2026.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, Rev Orr said: "I come from a farming background - my brother and father are dairy farmers so I am used to driving a tractor and still do.
"In 2022, I came up with the idea that every year we will get people to do 22 things until the year 2023 and I was chatting with practitioners and two of the girls said they would do 22 cold water dips.
"They asked what I was going to do and I had no idea and then thought I could maybe do something in a tractor and someone suggested that I visit all the churches."
Rev Orr has chosen to support Sands NI on his fundraising journey as the charity's co-ordinator, Steven Guy, is one of the church's parishioners and he wanted to support their work across Northern Ireland.
Sands NI supports anyone affected by the death of a baby, works to improve bereavement care and funds research to save babies' lives.
"That connection with Sands NI is very real here and 50 per cent of funds raised will go to the charity and the other 50 per cent will go to the church building fund ahead of the 200th anniversary.
"I want to support Sands because they have done excellent work and continue to do so for supporting bereaved families," he explained.
Local farming supply shop Burkes Of Cornascriebe has provided Rev Orr with his mode of transport for the journey.
He continued: "I told them what I was doing and that I am a New Holland man myself and they kindly agreed to give me a tractor to do it in instantaneously.
"I'll have a sign on the back to tell people along the way what I am doing with a QR code so that people can donate if they would like to.
"There are 438 churches - I didn't realise there were as many. I'll be staying overnight along the way and people have kindly put me up and other nights, I will be staying in a B&B."
Rev Orr has already raised over 50 per cent of his fundraising target ahead of Sunday's start and will be posting regular selfies with the faces he meets along his journey on the Sands NI Facebook page.
"I start in St Mark's Portadown and I will end in St Mark's Portadown and I am both nervous and excited, it may be a tiring jaunt but these things are worth it because of the people you are supporting."
If you would like to donate, see here.
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