Launching themselves by parachute from an altitude of over 4267 metres to raise funds for the recovery of an ancient abbey in England: protagonists of this improbable venture are not professional parachutists, but two Benedictine monks, Father Francis Baird and Father Martin McLaughlin, respectively abbot and treasurer of the medieval abbey of Prinknash, in Gloucestershire, in south-west England. The two monks hope in this way to contribute to the restoration of their abbey. The ‘launch’ in fact forms part of a fund-raising campaign to restore the ancient building, protected as a heritage site by the British Ministry for the Environment. The objective of the “courageous monks” is to raise at least 15,000 pounds, over 21,000 euros. But the sum is only a tiny fraction of the estimated two million euros needed for the total restoration of Prinknash. The two monks will be joined in their parachute launch by Mary Jones, who is heading the fund-raising campaign, and who does not disguise the fact that she is “terrified by the very thought of making a parachute jump”, though she adds: “If I’m mad enough to jump from an aeroplane, I’m happy to have two Benedictines with me!” For his part the abbot said he was “calm, but a little bit apprehensive”. The three are due to make their launch in the days ahead, from the nearby airport of South Ferney, and hope for the support of a large crowd. The monks will not don their traditional habits for the launch rather too risky! but will pose for photographers in their habits and safety helmets before boarding the plane”.
