Three bishops are set to launch a project in Norwich to support new vicars in Papua New Guinea.

Bilum Bilong Pris – Resources for New Vicars– is the Diocese of Norwich's Lent Project 2014 which will begin next Friday.

Every year the diocese runs the Lent Project which encourages parishes to raise money to support charities both at home and abroad, and the diocese supports its link with Papua New Guinea (PNG) through the Lent Project biennially.

The link with Papua New Guinea began more than 40 years ago when the late David Hand, from West Norfolk – a former Archbishop of Papua New Guinea – and former Bishop of Norwich, William Launcelot Scott Fleming established the connection.

Over the years, clergy from PNG and the diocese have visited each other to continue the link.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Norwich said: 'Unlike in this country, ordinands (and often their families) are separated from their home communities to a much greater extent than ours.

'Travel is much more complicated in PNG with most dioceses only connected by aeroplane or boat.

'But the biggest difference between our two countries is in the resources for ministry they take away with them.

'Most of our ordinands are well equipped with books and other resources for ministry as they finish their training. This is not so in Papua New Guinea.

'This year we want to provide every ordinand in PNG with some of the resources needed for the ministry that awaits them.'

The 2014 Lent Project will be launched on Friday at Clover Hill Infant School, in Bowthorpe, at 10am.

The Rt Rev Graham James, Bishop of Norwich, will be hosting the launch and the Rt Rev Jonathan Meyrick, Bishop of Lynn, will be talking about his visits to Papua New Guinea. Bishop Peter Fox, formerly a PNG bishop, will also present a musical interlude in traditional Papua New Guinea languages.