VILLAGERS walked 12 miles to mark a traditional Christian festival and to raise awareness of the plight of rural churches.

The walk was organised for those attending churches in the Wye Dore parishes of Madley, Tyberton, Peterchurch, Vowchurch and Turnastone and celebrated the festival of Rogation – marking the parish boundary and asking for a blessing on the land.

But the walk was also a bid to raise awareness of the financial challenges faced by rural churches with decreasing congregation numbers.

The Rev Simon Lockett said: "People love their village churches, whether they come to church or not, but it is getting really tricky.

"Herefordshire has very good congregation sizes compared to the rest of the country but the actual giving is quite low compared to other dioceses."

He said that although the Church of England is capital rich, rural churches still require funds to pay for the upkeep of the buildings for weddings, funerals and Christenings.

Congregation numbers have been slowly decreasing over a number of years – and the trend is expected to continue.

Churches are now having to find creative ways of encouraging the congregation to attend, and to donate.

Mr Lockett added: "We have got to start changing things and we are doing that. In the near future there will be big changes in the church which will be an exciting challenge."

For more information, email simonlizlockett@hotmail.com