ROYSTON Methodist Church has raised about £550 in support of an ongoing project in Nepal. A garden party, attended by about 100 people, was held in the grounds of the Manse on Saturday. Church administrator Joan Munden said: There were stalls selling pla

ROYSTON Methodist Church has raised about £550 in support of an ongoing project in Nepal.

A garden party, attended by about 100 people, was held in the grounds of the Manse on Saturday.

Church administrator Joan Munden said: "There were stalls selling plants, cakes and jewellery. There were also cream teas and games for children.

"We were lucky with the weather, because showers were forecast."

But perhaps the highlight of the party involved the minister, the Rev Ian Smart, being locked in a pillory and soaked with water.

Some of the money raised will be used to help build a 200-capacity church in the Nepalese town of Hetauda.

The rest of the proceeds will be donated to two nearby orphanages.

Mrs Munden said: "The church has been involved in the project for about a year-and-a-half, and in October, two members, Paul Harris and Graham Blair, and our minister went over there to help to start to build the church.

"They helped to complete the foundations and supporting pillars, and now the roof is on."

A developing country, nestled in the shadow of the Himalayas, Nepal is bordered by China to the north and India to the south, east, and west.

As recently as November 2006, it was forbidden to openly hold any act of Christian worship in Nepal, but the introduction of a new constitution in December 2007 made religious freedom legal.

For more information about the Nepal fund or to make a donation, call the Rev Ian Smart on 01763 230 210.