Are there piles of lovely but unwanted pairs of socks lingering under your pile of Christmas presents or spilling out of your sock drawer? Manchester Cathedral can find a good home for any pairs of new, warm socks that people would like to donate or buy to support the Booth Centre in looking after those who find themselves homeless at the turn of the New Year.
The Canon Wray Sock Appeal is back for its second year and you can donate your socks right up until the official anniversary of this historic legacy on the Thursday 21 January.
Canon Cecil Wray was a very popular, if slightly eccentric, priest who died in 1866 after serving in this church for 56 years. He was a contemporary of Joshua Brookes, and a rival to the claim of being the most prolific baptiser and ‘marrier’ in English history. Records show that he presided over 33,211 christenings, 13,196 marriages and 9996 funerals as a result of the massive growth in population during the Industrial Revolution.
Canon Wray was not afraid to speak his mind or get involved in Manchester’s political and social issues. He campaigned for new schools, the reduction of the working day to 10 hours for mill workers and was known for his sympathy for the needs of the poor.
Canon Wray’s ‘Birthday Gift’ is a fund he set up in 1866 for the provision of socks for the poor on the anniversary of his birthday. From now up until Thursday 21 January, we will be collecting socks, new pairs or any surplus pairs received over Christmas which we will then hand over to the Booth Centre for distribution.
The Dean of Manchester, the Very Reverend Rogers Govender, said
“Last year over 500 pairs of socks were donated. If possible we would like to improve on that record this year and continue to support the excellent work of the Booth Centre in any way we can. The simple act of providing someone with a clean, dry pair of socks can make a small difference to the comfort of those struggling on the city’s streets this winter. We will again be encouraging the staff and clergy of Manchester Cathedral to support this legacy and make their own donations. ”
