Sooner rather than later the Cause for the canonisation of John Bradburne is likely to open, possibly on September 5, the 40th anniversary of the murder of the missionary in what is now Zimbabwe.
There is abundant evidence of a cult devoted to Bradburne as in Africa each year some 25,000 pilgrims make the journey to Mutemwa Leprosy Settlement, which he refused to abandon in spite of the dangers to his life, to pray for his intercession.
In Britain he is admired by such figures as Charles Moore, the former editor of the Spectator and the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, and when a crowdfunding appeal was launched to help meet the costs of the Cause advancing, among the donors was Frank Cottrell-Boyce, author, novelist, screenwriter and the man behind the 2012 London Olympics Ceremony, who handed over £400.
