THE man in charge of York’s Bar Convent is going the extra mile to raise funds to help transform the building and help secure its future.

General manager James Foster is cycling from coast to coast – 140 miles from Whitehaven, in the west, to Tynemouth in the east – with three friends, for the convent’s Living Heritage Project, to help raise money to make the historic building a must-see visitor attraction.

As previously reported in The Press, work has already started on a £2million project at the museum, scheduled to open in the autumn.

A new exhibition will chart the 300-year history of the bar convent – from angry mobs and priest holes to Luftwaffe bombs.

It will also shine a light on convent founder Mary Ward, the Yorkshire-born pioneer of education for women and girls. Among the exhibits will be a pair of 18th century host tongs used to make an impression on communion wafers.

The work also includes providing greater accessibility throughout the Grade I Listed building.

To date, the convent has raised more than £1.2million of the £2million project cost, through donations from individuals and organisations. To play his part in raising funds, Mr Foster and his friends are setting off on their trek today and hope to complete it within three days.

He said it’s the first sponsored event he’s done since he was seven and he’s keen to get as many sponsors and donations as possible.

James has set up a Just Giving page for donations – justgiving.com/jamesfosterc2c

The Bar Convent, England’s oldest existing convent, was founded in Blossom Street in York in 1686.