AN energetic curate has put a modern twist on an age-old challenge by travelling around the boundaries of his parish using different modes of transport.

Nick Kaleniuk, the curate at Claines Church, agreed to ‘beat the boundaries’ of Claines, Worcester, which usually involves walking around the parish limits.

Instead he scooted, cycled, ran, canoed and rode the journey by horse, as well as hitching a ride on a wheelbarrow, tractor and motorbike.

Reverend Kaleniuk, aged 42, covered the 11.2 miles of the parish boundary in two hours and 45 minutes on Sunday before dropping in to the Mug House pub in Claines for a well-deserved pint.

His epic trek – all done while he was dressed in his cassock and surplice – raised £500 for youth groups at Claines Church – also called St John Baptist Church.

Rev Kaleniuk said: “It’s a tradition hundreds of years old in the Church of England. It goes back to the time when maps weren’t that reliable and physically walking round your boundary and beating it out was the way to see where the boundary lines were.

“In Claines we’ve been keeping the tradition going in a slightly more civilised way with a stroll and a picnic. This year we had the idea to do something a bit different.”

Rev Kaleniuk said his favourite part of the trip was the canoe ride although he had to paddle fast to avoid an angry swan who mistook him for a rival in his white surplice.

He said: “I had a great send off from the church with the little ones scooting or running behind me.

“A huge party were waiting for me to come along in my canoe. It was great to see people joining in. It’s lovely to bring the church and the community together. Hopefully we will do it again next year.”

Beating the boundary coincides with Rogation when traditionally the land and those who work on it are blessed.