How the Carlisle Diocese helped after the 2005 boxing day tsunami

After the 2005 Boxing Day tsunami, the Carlisle Diocese, together with other UK churches and church organisations, responded through various means.

The Church of England's Carlisle Diocese had launched an appeal in response to the plight of people in its partner diocese of Madras on the east coast of India. The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev Graham Dow, who said he had been deeply moved by the "terrible images" of the disaster.

27 fibreglass fishing boats were given fishermen by the diocese of Carlisle. Madras in India is one of Carlisle' link dioceses for some years, a group from Carlisle, the Bishop of Penrith, the Rt Rev James Newcome, and the Archdeacon of Westmorland and Furness, the Ven George Howe, and others, decided to continue with a long-planned visit to Madras and saw the devastation for themselves.

The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Revd Graham Dow, wrote to the diocese in January 2005, inviting those who were willing to come to the financial aid of their Indian partners to respond by the end of Lent.

The result from that very small diocese was "incredible", said a spokesman at the time. The Bishop's letter was read in the churches, and many just gave through retiring collections and individual donations.

Within three months, despite or perhaps because of Carlisle's own experience of floods, an amazing £130,000 had been raised. It was sent to Bishop Devasahayam in Madras, where it helped buy the 27 boats with outboard engine and nets.

Each boat, helped families to make a living. Bishop Dow had called it "a fantastic example of Christians working together