Talyllyn Railway’s popular annual “Stations at Stations” pilgrimage event on Good Friday raised a record £540 for Tywyn Parish Church’s partner diocese in Matabeleland in Zimbabwe.

A specially chartered train travels up and down Talyllyn Railway, visiting six stations which host a selection of readings, meditations and prayers on the ‘Stations of the Cross’ to form a spiritual journey.

The Venerable Robert Townsend, Archdeacon of Meirionnydd, was celebrant at the event, which is arranged with local churches and chapels.

The Right Rev Cleopas Lunga, Bishop of Matabeleland, a long-standing friend and occasional visitor to Talyllyn Railway, wrote to thank the railway, churches and chapels, stating that the money would provide welcome support to an area suffering from a devastating drought.