Clergyman in bus pass pilgrimage

Dick Acworth's bus pilgrimage is expected to take three weeks

A former Archdeacon of Wells is planning to visit all of England's 42 cathedrals using his free bus pass.

The Venerable Dick Acworth, 72, said his pensioner pilgrimage would raise money for the Girls Chorister Trust at Wells Cathedral in Somerset.

The journey starts on 8 May from Wells bus station and will take three weeks.

"I have already received my first unsolicited sponsorship of £1 per cathedral - an incentive in itself," said Archdeacon Acworth.

He also plans a competition about the journey with questions such as the number of miles, the number of bus rides and how many bishops, archdeacons, clergy and others he stays with.

At each of the cathedrals he will stop and pray and if he arrives in time attend evensong.

He is expected back at Wells bus station on 2 June.

Free bus travel was introduced last year for all pensioners on local buses.

Archdeacon Acworth, now retired and living in Croscombe, was based at Wells for 10 years from 1993. Previously he had served as parish priest in Yatton and St Mary's in Taunton.