Cyclists, walkers, horse-riders and even drivers are invited to take part in this year’s Ride & Stride to help raise money for Worcestershire & Dudley’s historic churches.
The Annual Sponsored Ride & Stride is a National event - every second Saturday in September participants across the country are out taking part for their local County Churches Trust. This is the main source of income for the local trusts and enables it to make grants to churches in need. The ride & stride is inter-denominational and participants are invited to seek sponsors who pay an agreed amount for each place of worship visited by bike, foot, horse or car on the day.
As important as the sponsored participants are the many volunteers who man the churches and chapels to sign in riders and striders. It is a real community effort and the lifeblood of the Trust.
In the quarter of a century since the churches in this county have been involved, more than 200 have received grants for much-needed building repairs or fabric improvement. The money raised by each participant is shared equally between the Worcestershire and Dudley Historic Churches Trust and a nominated place of worship.
This year, the event will take place on Saturday 14 September. Please consider opening your church to sponsored visitors, participating on the day, or encouraging others to do so. It was wonderful to see many churches open last year, but we are keen to see more sponsored visitors taking part. It’s a great way to see some beautiful buildings and explore the local countryside, and can be great fun for individuals or families.
Bishop John said: “Ride and Stride is a great way get some exercise while visiting some of our churches and, at the same time, raising money to support these precious and glorious ‘memory palaces’. Many of them will be open, with refreshments on offer for visitors, so there’ll be an opportunity to pop in and learn about the stories held within the stones by cycling, walking or driving (if the latter, you’ll only get the exercise walking from the car to the church and back, of course, but it will still be worth it)!”
You can find out more information, register your church is open, sign up as a participant and get all the materials you need at our website: www.ridestrideworcs.org
Thank you for helping to support the work of the Historic Churches Trust in Worcestershire & Dudley!
