ONE of Suffolk's best-known institutions today unveiled its latest signing – and the unusual fee that brought their new signing to the county.

ONE of Suffolk's best-known institutions today unveiled its latest signing – and the unusual transfer fee that brought their new signing to the council.

But this time the announcement didn't come from Portman Road, but from the church's Diocesan Offices in St Nicholas Centre.

And the transfer didn't cost millions of pounds – but sending a cow to Africa!

Canon Jim Pendorf has been appointed the new parish resources advisor to the diocese and is moving to Suffolk from Birmingham where he is an inner-city vicar.

But when the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Rt Rev Richard Lewis, approached Bishop John Sentamu of Birmingham the unusual deal was struck.

"There is a bit of history to this," said diocesan spokesman Nick Clarke.

"A couple of years ago Bishop Richard had to approach Bishop John when he wanted Clive Young as Bishop of Dunwich.

"At the time Bishop John, who is a refugee from Uganda, was Bishop of Stepney and asked him to support the Send A Cow charity.

"So we sponsored a cow. Since then Bishop John has moved to Birmingham, and when he wanted to appoint Canon Jim, Bishop Richard was asked to send a second cow."

The diocese will not be physically sending a cow from Suffolk to Uganda – but it will be sponsoring a beast through the charity Send A Cow which provides help for farmers in some of the poorest countries in Africa.

The charity gives people the chance to supply a range of farming equipment and training in Africa – from £32 to sponsor the planting of trees to £750 to supply a cow which can transform the prospects for a family in the poorest areas.

Canon Jim, 58, told the Evening Star today that he was looking forward to starting his new job in February.

"It involves developing the work of parishes through the local deaneries – and I am looking forward very much to moving to the county," he said.

Part of his job will also be to help parishes and deaneries increase the amount of money they are able to raise for the church.

Weblink: www.sendacow.org.uk