At Mutemwa in northeast Zimbabwe, John Bradburne devoted the last ten years of his life to people suffering from leprosy, offering dignity, hope, friendship and most importantly faith. Thousands now visit Mutemwa each year, drawn to the peace and inspiration of his legacy. It is a place of pilgrimage, where thousands come each year to pray and find peace in the shadow of John's legacy. It will be even more necessary as his cause for Sainthood proceeds. Yet, the current chapel is a small, modest, traditional structure housing 40 or so people, which has served well in years past, but is too small to even hold the residents of the Mutemwa Leprosy Care Centre, let alone the many pilgrims.

This campaign aims to build a more suitable, larger, welcoming church to honour John’s life, providing a space for 400+ people to gather, pray, and find peace. By contributing, you’re helping create a sanctuary where John’s spirit of love and service lives on, offering comfort and faith to all who come.

John Bradburne’s life was one of radical compassion. Born in Cumbria, in the United Kingdom, he was drawn to a life of faith and service that eventually led him to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). When he arrived at Mutemwa in 1969, he saw in the community’s residents not simply a need but an opportunity to live the teachings of Christ. John chose to live among the leprosy sufferers, not simply as a caretaker, but as a friend, a neighbour, and a fellow soul. For those whose lives he touched, he became a source of joy and resilience - a reminder that they were loved and valued. He was eventually martyred for his unwavering commitment, yet his memory lives on as a testament to his deep and unyielding faith.

You can Buy a Brick to help support the construction of the church at Mutemwa for just £25 each, and your brick will become a part of a wall of named supporters for all to see for years to come, or you may prefer to remain anonymous.

The aim is to start building in the middle of 2025 with a rough time frame of 6-9 months for the build.

So please share to anyone you think would be interested in participating in 'a once-in-a-lifetime project to build a church for the Servant of God, John Randal Bradburne who is on the pathway to becoming Zimbabwe's first Saint.

Thank you

JBMS