A clergyman has been dubbed “Reverend Candles” by parishioners after he collected thousands of used candles so that they could be melted, reshaped and sent to Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Reverend Will Lyon Tupman, 29, based at St Mary’s Church in Sawston, Cambridge, began collecting candles in 2022 after he heard about an appeal for spares.<\/p>\n
When he saw old candles in his vestry he said he had a “lightbulb” moment.<\/p>\n
The candles were taken to a charity, which melts them to create new ones.<\/p>\n
“I heard about a campaign through a contact at the Sandy Rotary Club in Bedfordshire, who collected old candles which are taken to the Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership<\/a>. They are melted down to produce new ones sent to Ukraine,” Mr Lyon Tupman said.<\/p>\n “Churches use a lot of candles, and I noticed a box full of used ones in my vestry. It was my lightbulb moment. I put out appeals to fellow churches and clergy, and they all got on board.”<\/p>\n He described the initiative as a “win-win” situation.<\/p>\n “The churches are having a spring clean and recycling their old candles. It has been so encouraging to see the spirit of generosity.”<\/p>\n