Fr Ulick Loring, parish priest of St James's Catholic church in Pope's Grove, Twickenham, west London, was desperate to raise funds to improve the facilities at his church. St James's is a delightful, ornate building. But there is little space for parishioners to meet outside Mass.

"We have lots of children ," Fr Loring said. "But like old Mother Hubbard we don't know what to do."

So Fr Loring, a lifelong pogonophile (beard enthusiast), decided to shave off his beard at a sponsored event on June 6 in order to raise money.