This is a text-only version of an article first published on Monday, 18 March 2013. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
IF you had been in Central Oxford and looked up on Saturday March 9 you could have had a bit of a surprise.
You might have caught sight of a large banana half way down a church tower. Around £7,000 was raised for Christian Aid when 31 brave individuals aged from 11 to 73 abseiled down the tower of St Mary Magdalen Church.
The abseilers included Chris Bright, 22, (right) who is currently working as a Volunteer Intern in Christian Aid's Oxford office.
Since the abseil coincided with Fairtrade Fortnight, Chris abseiled dressed as a banana.
On reaching the bottom Chris said "I am relieved to be down - but I hope I have played a small part in raising awareness of Christian Aid and the importance of Fairtrade. "The curate of St Mary, Magdalen, Richard Frith, (above in red) also took part.
Despite being terrified of heights he made it safely down to the cheers of members of the congregation below.
He hopes that the church might repeat the abseil next year.
Chris Bright smiles with satisfaction after finishing the abseil.