Fundraiser's 75-mile walk to help local church

A woman whose same-sex wedding was welcomed by a church after she was turned away by other venues is taking on a 75-mile walk to help fund urgent repairs to the building.

Katie Simpson will set off from Christ Church in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, in July, and walk to Prestatyn, Denbighshire, to raise money to enable the church to turn its heating back on.

The two-day fundraiser was inspired by the support she said she and her wife received from the congregation after struggling to find a church willing to host their ceremony.

"We were turned away by quite a few," she said. "Being in a same-sex relationship, I didn't think we'd get much love, but everyone has been so welcoming."

Simpson said she would leave the church at 07:00 BST on 3 July and walk to Chester, before continuing to her mum's caravan, near Prestatyn, the following day.

Ben Barrs, the church's organist, said the congregation had been left without heating after a routine inspection uncovered serious issues, following the return of its repaired boiler.

"The boiler actually came back in full working order," he told BBC Radio Stoke. "The problem was the flue pipe that takes all the gases away.

"It's past the point of no return now and it's not something you can just walk into a shop and buy - it needs to be specially built."

He said repairs were expected to cost more than £7,000 and were needed before colder weather returned later in the year.

"It really was cold - you could see your breath," he said. "It's important we get this done ready for the autumn, when it gets a lot colder."

Barrs said members of the church were "in awe" of Simpson's challenge and were backing her all the way.

"We absolutely love her to bits for coming forward with this," he said. "It's an amazing challenge and we want to be right behind her to make sure she achieves it."

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