In late 2009, the Anglesey benefice took the decision to form a link with the village of Karukekere in the diocese in the north of Tanzania.

This decision followed a visit to Mara by six parishioners and it is hoped that there will be many future visits in both directions, and that this will spread outside the church - for example our village schools could be linked with the schools in Karukekere.

The diocese of Mara lies in the north of Tanzania, next to the Kenyan border, between Lake Victoria and the Serengeti National Park

Hilkiah, Bishop of Mara, trained under Roger Bowen and they have remained in contact.

In 2007, the Anglesey benefice raised about £2000 for the diocese of Mara – about half of this was used to buy 20 bicycles for some of their clergy and the rest was used to pay theological college fees for two lay readers. See this page for further details.

As a result of this, Bishop Hilkiah visited us when he came to the UK for the Lambeth Conference in August 2008. He spoke at a Men’s Breakfast and a special service and barbecue was held at St. Mary's church, Swaffham Bulbeck.

At this service, Bishop Hilkiah gave an open invitation to the clergy and congregation of the benefice to come and see how the ‘holistic’ work of the Anglican Church is improving life for the many poor people of the region and increasing the number of active worshipers and parishes.

Our visitors received a very warm welcome from the Bishop, his staff, the congregations of the various parishes that were visited, and indeed from all Tanzanians.

Arthur Mauya, the diocesan link officer, had organised a full schedule of visits to show all the different kinds of work the diocese undertakes to improve the lives of the local people.

There is some information about the visit to Mara diocese here, and Karukekere here. You can also see some photographs of the diocese, all taken during the visit in June 2009, here