The former Archbishop of Canterbury is launching St Albans’ annual Christian Aid Week.

Lord Rowan Williams, who is also chairman of Christian Aid, will be preaching at the 9.30am and 11.15am services at St Albans Cathedral on Sunday, May 15, to mark the start of the annual Christian Aid Week house-to-house collection and associated fundraising events.

St Peter’s Church will later that day be hosting the annual Christian Aid Ecumenical service, a festal evensong celebrating Pentecost and the work of Christian Aid, drawing together churches of all denominations around the city.

During Christian Aid Week, this year May 15 to 21, the 23 participating churches across St Albans will be sending out an army of volunteers on the annual house to house collection dropping the distinctive red envelopes through the letterboxes of homes across the city and collecting in the donations.

They expect to raise around £30,000.

The Reverend Canon Richard Watson, Sub Dean of the Cathedral, said: “We are delighted that Lord Williams will be with us to launch this year’s Christian Aid Week.

“Our usual team of volunteers will contribute directly to the sterling work that Christian Aid does.

“I would urge everyone to give generously towards this important appeal, and make a real different to the people of Bangladesh.”

Churches Together in Marshalswick will host the annual Christian Aid Market on Saturday, May 21, from 10am to 2pm outside St Mary’s, Marshalswick.

St Albans Cathedral with be holding a ‘Big Brekkie’ fundraising breakfast on May 21 in the cathedral from 10 to 11.30am.

This will be one of a series of Big Brekkies being organised round the city. Contact your nearest church for details of a Big Brekkie near you.