and for my next act ...

By Diogenes ( articles ) | May 07, 2006

Creative alms solicitation in the U.K. Your Uncle Di is rooting for the spider.

A team Rector in Kent who has a fear of spiders is to let a live tarantula crawl on her hand -- in aid of a church development fund.

The Revd Marilyn Ilyas, Team Rector of Holy Trinity, South Chatham, is staging the "spider sit" tomorrow at 11 a.m. in St David's, Lordswood, one of the churches in the team. The tarantula, Beryl, will arrive with a member of the congregation, Dave Till, who will be dressed as Spiderman.

A self-confessed arachnophobe, Mrs Ilyas said on Tuesday that the idea came both to her and the churchwardens at St David's, after she announced that would do a sponsored event for the appeal. "Everyone was aware of my fear of spiders, and this seemed a good idea. But, of course, now it is near I am not so sure."

Ever considered appealing to your parishioners' charity?