Ride + Stride for churches

What could be better than getting on your bike, or lacing up your boots, to explore historic churches on a sunny September weekend?

What about if you were also helping to support those churches, by raising sponsorship money along the way?

Ride + Stride for churches is a sponsored bike ride or walk between churches, exploring and enjoying the countryside from Cornwall to Northumberland. It takes place on the second Saturday in September every year. This weekend is also part of Heritage Open Days, so thousands of churches are open to visit across England.

Supported by The National Churches Trust and run by churches trusts across the UK, Ride + Stride raises well over £1million every year. The money raised helps to repair churches, chapels and meeting houses throughout the UK. It is the single largest source of income for many historic churches trusts, and enables them to give hundreds of thousands of pounds in grants to churches across the country. The funds you raise can be split between your local trust and your chosen church or chapel.

Vist the Ride + Stride website to find links to your local trust, register to take part and download sponsorship forms and publicity you can use

EVENTRideStride2024Corsham(CorshamPhotographicClubPERMISSIONBYEMAIL)1 — ©CorshamPhotographicClub

The great cycle ride

Ride & Stride 2024 is the 40th anniversary of the event in Wiltshire - it was originally called The Great Cycle Ride.

To mark this momentous achievement, Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust have given a special commemorative six inch coaster/plaque to every church taking part, either by having their church open with refreshments and/or by taking part in fundraising. The plaques are funded by a bequest from the late Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville.

Fundraise for the National Churches Trust

If you'd like to help secure the future of churches, there are lots of ways you can get involved fundraising for us. No event is too big or too small, and you can be sure that the money you raise will go to support the UK’s churches so they can be well maintained, open for visitors and be there for local people, now and in the future.

Find out more

MatthewMaries

©MatthewMaries

Ride + Stride 2024

Thousands of people took part in the annual Ride + Stride for historic churches on Saturday 2024. If you'd like to add your images here, please get in touch.