CANON Keith Farrow has been doing his best Patrick Swayze impression as he tries his hand at pottery making to raise funds for his church’s roof appeal.

The preacher has taken part in a variety of fundraising actions for the appeal to fix holes in Cawthorne All Saints’ Church’s roof and has already raised around £70,000 for the cause.

Now, he’s picked up a new skill as he’s tried his hand at making clay flower pots with the help of Gordon Harrison, owner of clay manufacturers William Blyth and born-and-bred Cawthorne resident.

Keith told the Chronicle: “This is my first ever attempt at working with clay.

“It took me three goes under the tutelage of master clay maker Gabriel Nichols to make my own little pot.

“It takes far more skill than it looks - I didn’t know if I’d start spinning with the table when it started.”

William Blyth has now gone on to create 100 larger to be sold across the community, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going back into the church.

Each is numbered with a commemorative rose, with the first made called ‘The One’ after the mayor of Barnsley’s number plate - this will be auctioned off separately at a later day.

“The fundraising work has brought me in contact with lots of people I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” Keith added.

“It’s shown me how important the church as a building is to so many people.

“It really warmed my heart to see how much people care - I guess every cloud has a silver-lining.”