Pastoral experience was not the only thing in store for visiting Ugandan priest Reverend Nathan Turyahikayo when he came to stay at Carleton Rectory.

It was the first time he had left his country, flown in an aeroplane, travelled on a train or seen snow!

Father Nathan is staying with Canon and Mrs Simon Hoare for eight weeks from April 8 to June 8. Almost three weeks ago the area was covered with a blanket of snow - the first Father Nathan had seen.

He has been out and about and has permission from the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Bradford to officiate in services as he shadows Mr Hoare.

Father Nathan has a special interest in the Mothers' Union which is represented in every parish in the new diocese of Kinkiizi in SW Uganda, and on a recent visit to London visited Mary Sumner House, the MU headquarters. His wife, Ida, is the parish MU and Sunday school leader.

"Although the standards of living between the two countries are so different, Father Nathan and I have a strong unity in Jesus, in the word of God, the Bible and in our common membership of the Anglican Church," said Mr Hoare.

Father Nathan, 46, has five children, Prudence, Gracious, Nicholas, Glorious, Nathanson and Jacob. He is one of the senior clergy in the Kinkiizi diocese and walks the four miles to the five churches in his parish to conduct baptisms, funerals, give holy communion and offer pastoral visits.

He said of his visit to England: "I am here in your country to learn and share and to have more pastoral experience. I hope I will go back to Uganda refreshed."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.