Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / MANCHESTER
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

Tuesday, 4 March 2008, 08:03 GMT

Cathedral trials Fairtrade wine

The Very Reverend Rogers Govender Parishioners in Manchester could soon play their part in helping to ensure third world farmers get a fair crop price - by taking Communion.

Manchester Cathedral is introducing what it believes to be the world's first Fairtrade Communion wine.

About 70% of churches in the diocese already use some Fairtrade products and it is hoped the Chilean wine can be added to the list.

Clergy and parishioners can have their say during a wine tasting on Tuesday.

The Porterion Fairtrade Wine is imported from a co-operative in Chile by a company in Stone, Staffordshire.

Coffee alternative

The wine tasting is one of a range of events across the Diocese of Manchester during Fairtrade Fortnight.

To earn a Fairtrade label, firms must pay local producers a fair price, and invest further to improve working conditions and local sustainability.

The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, the Very Reverend Rogers Govender, said: "Manchester Diocese has been a Fairtrade Diocese since 2006 and 70 per cent of our churches are committed to serving only fairly traded tea and coffee.

"During Fairtrade Fortnight we are sampling the world's first Fairtrade communion wine to see whether our clergy and parishes might want to switch to Fairtrade wine too."

Mr Govender was joining parishioners and clergy to compare the fortified wine against other non-fairtrade varieties on Tuesday morning.

But if the 15% alcohol beverage is too strong for some palates before lunch, the cathedral is also offering Fairtrade coffee, tea and refreshments.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Fairtrade product sales rise 81% (25 Feb 08 |  Business )
Meeting over cathedral security (23 Dec 07 |  Manchester )
Violent video game maker forgiven (24 Oct 07 |  Manchester )
Security tightened at cathedral (01 Oct 07 |  Manchester )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Manchester Cathedral
Poterion Fairtrade Communion Wine
Fairtrade wine for churches
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©