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Armchair quiz in support of Bishops’ Appeal

Thursday October 13th 2022

Every Christmas for more than 28 years, the Rev Denis Sandes and his wife Lesley have circulated a fundraising armchair Christmas Quiz.

In recent years, their quiz raises around €2,000 a year for the Church of Ireland Bishop’s Appeal, and Denis is hoping that this year’s quiz will be no exception.

The couple designed their first Christmas Quiz to raise funds for the refurbishment of the organ in Kells and Inistioge Group of Parishes in the Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory.

“It was my wife’s idea to make up a quiz and send it out with our Christmas cards,” Denis, 76, said. “Our parishioners also sent them out and we raised €600. “The following year we thought we could do another one to raise funds for charities and decided to look outside our own country and local needs, so we selected Bishops’ Appeal.

“Each year we highlight specific areas that will be supported by funds raised from the quiz – if it is something that has been on the news recently, then it tends to get more entries.” This year, funds raised by the quiz will support the work of Christian Aid, through Bishops’ Appeal, in providing emergency and long-term aid wherever it is need around the world.

After he retired from Clifden Parish, Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, in 2013, Denis engaged the help of diocesan magazine and website editors across the island to help him get the quiz out to the public

Since then, Denis said, he and Lesley have had great support from all over the island and have even had replies from as far away as Australia and Canada.

For anyone entering the quiz, Denis suggests a minimum entry fee of €2, but reveals people often send a bit more. “Many people look forward to it and enjoy filling it in. We get a lot of nice comments,” he said.

There is, of course, a prize (first place gets €30) and there are even rewards for also-rans. This year’s quiz is on the theme ‘Found at Sea,’ and you can download your quiz sheet HERE.

Closing date for entries is February 4 2023.

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