Exeter Bishop joins Cathedral abseil challenge

Holy moly that's high!

The Bishop of Exeter is back on solid ground after abseiling down the city's cathedral. 

Mike Harrison was one of 46 brave souls to descend 140 ft off the North Tower on Saturday (May 9) to raise funds for the next phase of projects to preserve and develop the landmark.

The height is roughly the same as ten double-decker buses stacked on top of one another.

Bishop Mike said, "When you step out at the top, over the turret, all you can see is that it’s a long way down and you are not sure if the ropes are going to be all right. You’re told to push off, which instinctively you don’t want to do, so that’s probably the moment my heart rate was at its highest.

"I would have crossed myself, but I thought the instructor might have thought I was trying to interfere with the mechanics [of the harness] so I decided against it. I’m very glad to have done it.”

The money raised will pay for the next phase of the Cathedral's Cloister, which involves plans for a new permanent cafe and improved activity spaces. 

The Bishop believes “the site is an iconic building right in the city of Devon. It's a sign of the Christian faith, but it's also a centre of hospitality for so many different groups. 

The fabric must be taken care of. It's 1,000 years old so we must raise money to keep it going.“