Minister to read Bible in four days

A clergywoman intends to speed-read the Bible in four days later this month, to raise money for churches and charities.

The Rev Mary Garbutt, 65, rector of seven rural churches in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, will read aloud from a King James Bible – a total of about 800,000 words.

Mrs Garbutt will start reading from a 150-year-old Bible at 6am each day, stopping only for short meal breaks and finishing in the early hours of the next day. "I am going to be speed-reading as fast as my mouth will go," she said.

Mrs Garbutt said the money will be raised for the churches she serves, along with charitable projects in Kenya.