Click here for information about contributing to the Trust, or to download pledge forms
We have substantially updated and slightly reorganised the website. Most of the changes affect appearance rather than content, but we also hope to be updating the content of parts of the site over the next few months.
Please report any problems that you have with the new site to the , giving as much detail as possible of what you were doing (or trying to do) and of the problem you encountered. There should be a set of Navigation Bars on the left side of almost every page. We have had one report of these not being visible on some pages, but have not been able to duplicate the problem. We would be particularly grateful for any further reports of this.
See the Special Events and Projects Page, which records and will advertise recent and pending special events and projects involving the Trust.
Trustee and Chairman of the Trust, writes: On behalf of the Trustees of the Cambridge Nazareth Trust (CNT) I welcome you to our website. We would like to thank all those of you who have supported our cause by contributing financially, as well as those who have contributed their valuable time, energy, skills and other resources.
Please take a little time to explore the site and to let us know what you think of it. Messages about navigation problems, broken links, etc. should be sent to the . Suggestions or requests for content changes, additional material, new external links, and the like should be sent to For general communications with us, you can use the email links here or on the Contacts Page or fill in and submit a feedback form.
Many of you who read this message will be longstanding and faithful supporters of the work of The Cambridge Nazareth Trust (CNT), which celebrates the 25th anniversary of its foundation this year, whilst others will be entirely new to the Trust and (hopefully) potential new donors to support the education of the children of the Holy Land.
I should like to introduce myself as the current Chairman of the Cambridge Nazareth Trust. My predecessor, Peter Smith, retired from this position in May 2007 after thirteen years' loyal service to the aims of the Trust. Peter had become known to so many of the Christians in the Holy Land through his several visits and unstinting support for educational projects. It is fitting that he was recently made a Knight of St Gregory in recognition of his efforts in supporting Christians in the Holy Land.
I have taken over as chairman at a particularly difficult time for Palestinians in the Holy Land, especially in Gaza. During 2008 there were reports of peace initiatives by leaders of the Western World, yet even a cursory visit to the Holy Land shows the inequalities in education and opportunity of life in general. The need for moral, physical and financial support for Christians and those of other faiths in the Holy Land is as great as ever.
I am delighted to be able to report that larger numbers are now visiting on pilgrimage and experiencing the spirituality of walking where Jesus walked. Of course many are visibly shocked at the injustice of the 'Separation Wall' on seeing it for the first time and wonder how there can be peace when land is being occupied for Israeli settlements. Despite the constant restrictions on their daily life, pilgrims are frequently impressed by the friendliness of the Palestinians and their attempts to live as normal a life as they can. The disparities in income are enormous and financial help for school fees and other educational needs continues to be a priority for the Trust. However, with the guidance of the Latin Patriarch the Trust continues to encourage our parishes and schools to raise funds for specific projects.
Examples of some of these projects are covered on this site. Our aim is to encourage the education of the next generation of Christians. They will have the vocation of being the faith community around the Holy Sites as places of genuine pilgrimage. Without the Christians as Living Stones there is a real danger of the Holy Land becoming a place of historical theme parks. Our grateful thanks are extended to those who have supported the Trust and its aims over the twenty five years it has existed. But, of course, the need continues, and if you feel you can help by personal donation or organising a fund-raising event, please do not hesitate to make a gift or to contact one of the Trustees.
Our Trustees regularly visit the Holy Land (at their own expense), both to emphasise our solidarity with the local Christians and to ensure that the funds which we provide are being used to provide the greatest possible benefits to their recipients. One of our committee, our adviser, Tony Ockenden, a regular visitor to the Holy Land, attended Christmas Midnight Mass in Bethlehem in 2007, and an abridged report appears elsewhere on the site. Trustee Patricia Richardson visited Jordan and Madaba Boys School in October, 2007 to see the computer suite donated by CNT. Also in the Special Events section we report on the visit by three Misdar School students and their teacher to St Gregory's Middle School, Bedford. in 2008, another of our longstanding supporters participated in the Liverpool half marathon for the Trust's benefit.
CNT has chosen since 2001 to support the schools of the Latin Patriarchate, whose greatest needs are increasingly to help families pay their school fees and to provide modern computing equipment. Unless fees are paid teachers cannot be paid, nor can adequate resources be provided, and if this continues schools will close. We stress computing facilities because they help to give the children access to a wider world and are now an essential aid to learning.
Please appeal in your local parish, or at your local school, for funds to help support those in the Holy Land. CNT's income is not high, amounting to just over £60,000 per annum for the last two years, and we maintain only very minimal reserves - everything we receive is passed on to support the children of the Holy Land. We are particularly concerned that the general deterioration of the national and world economy has resulted in a falling trend in our income for the current year, resulting in our having to reduce our support to some of "our" schools. Since May 2002, as a result of your generosity, we have sent over £475,000 to the Latin Patriarch. I would like to be able to tell the Patriarch later this year that we can again offer more help. My best wishes to you all for 2009. Please remember the children of The Holy Land in your prayers and know that they are extremely grateful for your help.
Peace be with you...
