A CHURCH is highlighting the importance of sanitation in the third world through its own toilets.

St John’s Church in Mosley Common has twinned its toilets meaning that two latrines will be built in Uganda by charities Cord and Tearfund thanks to the fundraising efforts of its parishioners.

Pam Hartley, the wife of Rev Julian Hartley, found out about the project at a conference last summer and decided to get involved.

She said: “When I heard about the project I thought it seemed like a nice idea to help others get something that we take for granted. The latrines are often built for people who live in the middle of nowhere and can help reduce the spread of disease by improving sanitation.

“I twinned the vicarage toilets there and then but I thought it would be great to twin the two church toilets as well. A few of the congregation and I held a lunch and made homemade soups and cakes after a Sunday service which raised £240. We only needed £120 so we gave the rest as a donation.

“We have received the certificates and we can also see where the latrines we funded are being built on the internet.”

The church has also been spreading the word and encouraged other churches and schools in the area to get involved in the project and twin their own toilets to help the 2.5 billion people across the world that do not have somewhere safe to go to the toilet.

Rev Hartley said: “My father was the chief engineer responsible for the sewage system created in London in the 1860s and 70s by Joseph Bazalgette that helped relieve a cholera epidemic. So this was something close to our hearts and we hope people will realise it is as necessary as clean drinking water for countries stricken with poverty.”