Ride and Strides - Northants Historic Churches Trust

Ride and Stride 2022

A great big thank you ...

to all who took part in September 2022 and helped to make it another really successful year and will allow us to give grants out to those churches who need it so desperately.

As we approached the date of Ride and Stride, we were happy with the response from Local Organisers and churches were pleased to be opening again ‘normally’ and expecting to welcome participants. Then two days before the day, the news of the death of the Queen was announced and there were questions as to whether the event should be cancelled. After consulting with the National Committee and the Archdeacons a note was sent out to all Local Organisers...

... Therefore we are not suggesting cancellation of Ride and Stride but suggest that churches should be open and welcome desks should be placed so that those in our communities wishing to spend time in their local church can enter unhindered but welcomed.

In essence we left it to churches to decide the appropriate way to respond; most churches were open as promised and around 308 churches took part and of them 187 were manned for at least part of the time, 89 open with a register available and 32 with just a register outside. Numbers recorded on the registers are down, but we are hoping that sponsorship would already have been sorted and that the income money would not be affected too much. By 16th March 2023, 150 churches had sent sponsor money to our Treasurer.

The Grand Total raised was £48,814

The total for 2022 received by 16th March 2023 is £48,814 including Gift Aid. A magnificent total and we are grateful to all those churches who helped reach this figure. The following churches raised over £1000 each: Brackley, Roade, Silverstone and Stoke Doyle. A special thank you to them.

This is yet another really good year and a real tribute to all those volunteers who work to make Ride and Stride in Northamptonshire the success that it is particularly in these difficult times. Particularly:

The enthusiasm of Local Organisers who keep us informed of their church arrangements as they changed and persuaded folk to ride and stride and find sponsors
Our team of Area Organisers who each have a group of Local Organisers, work tirelessly, firstly in the spring collating information about which churches will be open, and then sending out all the information to the Local Organisers. We would like to thank Isabella Masters who has been involved with the Ride and Stride for 31 years and is now retiring. She is the only Area Organiser who had a whole Deanery to look after so we are looking for at least two new Area Organisers for Daventry Deanery. We are grateful to Ruth Fitch for all her support with the Methodists churches over the years and in her role as Secretary for the NHCT and wish her well in the future.
Eddie Byland, our Treasurer who sends cheques for 50% of the amount received in sponsorship to each church.

And of course, thank you to all the Riders and Striders - without their enthusiasm and grit Ride and Stride day wouldn’t happen!

Publicity and Promotion

This is always a challenge and we are grateful to those who encouraged Riders and Striders via their parish magazines and websites. It would be good to find someone to help us with marketing and promoting Ride and Stride, particularly with social media.

Click the pictures to go to related web sites.

Archdeacon Sponne's tomb, Towcester 2 — All Saints - Polebrook

News from the Riders and Striders - 2022

"My final total was 14 churches but perhaps the most interesting church was St.Peter & St Paul in Abington park. They had organized a special ribbon and prayer royal mourning tribute on the railings which made the day more special (an elderly volunteer on duty offered drink and a selection of biscuits I enjoyed the event and will hopefully take part again as it raises important support for all churches."
Joan Lee, All Saints Northampton

"We had a lovely day with the Chapel open not just for Ride and Stride callers but visitors wishing to pay respects to Her Majesty the Queen, a very poignant day. We did not have Sitters and Shufflers as I once suggested for those unable to walk and cycle but a rota of members who enjoyed being in the Chapel, sometimes alone, finding it a peaceful time." Anitra Bull, Deanshanger Methodist Church

"Not a lot of visitors, but the church got a good clean and we were sponsored for doing that so some money will be raised." Bea Martin, St Leonards Church Loddington

"Less than forty-eight hours after the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11, the Head of the Church of England, I found myself sitting in my parish church ready to receive and welcome Riders and Striders.
My eyes were drawn to a framed manuscript that recorded the installed Rectors since 1238. I was reminded of hearing how our late Queen had presided over fifteen Prime Ministers during her reign and as I studied the manuscript further I observed that the building I was sitting in had presided over nineteen Monarchs beginning with Henry 111.
This gave me a sense of perspective and highlighted, in my mind, how important it was to preserve the many churches throughout the United Kingdom, not as historic legacies but as living and breathing edifices which have as much meaning today as they did at the time of their building.
Over the years the church has inspired architects, artists, musicians and craftsmen but more importantly they have become the custodians of the emotions of successive generations. They have witnessed the joy of christenings, weddings, first communions and the sadness of funerals. They stand as non-judgmental silent and trusted bastions of vows we have taken, and probably broken. They are the sacred repositories of our innermost confessions.
As we move into the third Carolean era remember the church is always at our service and ask ourselves are we at the churches’ Services?"
Stephen L Meakins, Castle Ashby

Our “Ride & Stride” round Northampton Churches - Report by Catherine B

Catherine J and myself started our day off at St Marks at 10 a.m. and had chance to pay our respects to the Queen who had sadly passed away 2 days before. St Marks is a modern building established just over 60 years ago for the residents of Whitehills, Spring Park and Obelisk Rise.

This was my fourth time of taking part in the Ride & Stride and I’ve taken pictures of the outside of Churches many times so this year I was looking for something different in the places we visited.

Our second stop after walking down Welford Road and into High Street was our home Church – Kingsthorpe Baptist, tucked away and quite a simple building. Some of our congregation quite a few years ago, made this beautiful banner with this wonderful text “God so loves the world”. The original Church building dates from 1835.

After walking through into the heart of Kingsthorpe village we visited our third Church – St John the Baptist or the Church on the green as I’ve always known it (having been born in Kingsthorpe). This building has been around since the 12th century. Another banner but this time for Kingsthorpe’s Mother’s Union.

We then crossed Harborough Road, walked along Clarence Avenue and came across Holy Trinity Church in Balmoral Road and I chose to reflect on this memorial to the fallen from The Great War and The Second World War. At one of the later Churches we visited, there was an exhibition around WW1 and it emphasised how common it was for individual streets to lose quite a few young men in the same battle. I wonder if that was the case for those named.

We then continued down Kingsthorpe Grove into Kingsley Road, through a couple of terraced streets and onto Kingsley Park Terrace and Kingsley Park Methodist –that has served the local community for over 133 years - I liked this quirky picture that was outside – very true words “Without God you’re snookered”.

Continuing up Kingsley Park Terrace and crossing the road, we found ourselves in St Matthews Parade and in St Matthews Church. This Church was built by the Phipps family as a memorial to Mr Pickering Phipps (1836-1890), the head of Phipps Brewery in Bridge Street. I quite liked this Christening font that you can see as you enter the Church – I wonder how many Northamptonians have been Christened here?

St Peter’s & St Paul was our next stop and another banner, this time for Abington’s Mother’s Union. We were invited to sign the book of condolence for HM The Queen here & it seemed right to do so. The Church is in the middle of Abington Park and as Lois had now joined us, we made the most of the surroundings, walked through the park, found a bench to sit on and enjoyed our lunch in view of the rose garden & many squirrels & pigeons!

At the end of Christchurch Road is Christchurch and we liked how the building incorporated new and old. Christ Church was consecrated in 1906 and its parish extends from the boundary of Abington Park towards the town centre. Local architect, Matthew Holding designed the church in the 14th century style. The West end of the church was completed in the 1980's designed by another local architect, Maurice Walton. The Church houses a fine Aeolian organ, a gift of the Barratt family in 1961 when it was moved from their family home in Kingsthorpe.

We then walked along Wellingborough Road cutting through towards Billing Road to get to Victoria Road Congregational Church which was established in 1873. I loved the flowers and the banner - “Holy Spirit, fill this place.”

Next up for us was All Saints Church in the town centre. There has been a Church in this spot since the 11th century and as many people know the church was rebuilt again after the Great Fire of Northampton in 1675. The Church has a very grand feel to it and an immense sense of history and of course many civic occasions are held here. The friendly Church Warden showed me this nativity scene that’s normally shut away in a cupboard until it’s displayed at Christmas time.

Moving across town to walk down Gold Street we eventually reached St Peters Church, Mare Fair. This Anglican church ceased to hold regular worship in 1995 but since then has been lovingly restored so that its architecture, decorations and furnishings can now be fully appreciated. Having visited previously I chose to take this picture that does show off the ceiling but also an unusual hanging decoration that was left, I was told, by a performing group after one of their productions in the Church.

Then literally over the road to Doddridge Street & Castle Hill United Reformed Church. The building, as confirmed in this banner, dates from 1695 and is the oldest surviving non-conformist Church in Northampton. The eminent Preacher Dr Phillip Doddridge was Minister here from 1729 for 22 years. So much has changed in the Spring Boroughs area of town, but this Church still remains.

And through the underpass that takes you under Horsemarket to our last Church – Holy Sepulchre, we arrived here at 3.35 p.m. It is one of only four remaining medieval “Round” churches in England. Steeped in history but manages to combine modern day features (like a coffee shop area) which does feature in a few of the other churches we visited. The picture I have chosen is another christening font but this time with a lovely display of flowers on top instead of its usual cover.

So finally – this is us, outside St Peter’s! (L-R Lois, Catherine B, Catherine J), we had a great day enjoying each other’s company, the weather was kind to us and collectively we’ve raised over £470.

Hopefully this short report gives you a flavour of what there is to see in these individual Churches around Northampton. They all have their own different style but what is clear is that over the years so much has been done to help fellow Christians to worship and support their faith in these beautiful buildings. And through Northampton Historic Churches Trust – long may that continue.
Catherine B, Kingsthorpe Baptist Church

Sheila Edwards, a churchwarden at Christ Church, Northampton

One of Sheila's favourite pastimes is walking. And Sheila has walked many miles for the Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust Ride & Stride. Christ Church, and Sheila’s friends, have sponsored her for the last five years, and each year the sponsorship has increased. In 2022, after walking to nine churches, in four hours and thirty minutes, Sheila raised the huge sum of £705. Sheila is pictured at the half-way checkpoint at Christ Church, Northampton.

Ali Carver, St Mary's, Weston by Welland

"The weather was perfect cycling weather, mostly sunny, not too hot and only a light breeze. Having not ridden my non-Electric bike in more than a year I was a little sceptical about how I would cope with the hills but as Ride and Stride isn't about racing or speed, I just took my time, enjoyed the beautiful countryside and surprisingly didn't have to get off and push once."

"I didn't pay enough attention to the list of open churches and found one or two that were shut or open but with no registration form..... I even turned up at one where a wedding was scheduled. But with the wonders of technology, I just took a selfie next to the church sign or noticeboard and pedalled to the next one. I met some very friendly ladies and gentlemen manning the churches and a few made biscuits, sweets and cold drinks available which was most welcome."

"My final stop was in my home church of St Mary's the Virgin, Weston by Welland, where a team of villagers had held a coffee morning which they extended to 6pm to accommodate all riders and striders offering them free drinks and cakes to encourage them on their way. I was very glad of the refreshments and friendly chat and I think that it was so appreciated by all the visitors that plans are already being made to do the same again next year."

Ali carver and helpers Weston by Welland

The people in the photos are those manning the churches. The lady is from Church Langton and she had people sponsor her to man the church for 8 hours! The young man was manning the ruin of St Mary in Arden in Market Harborough and was very friendly. He manned the site all day but only had a few visitors which is such a shame as it such an interesting place.

For your information and just to put your mind at ease, the coffee morning had been planned long before the news of our lovely Queen's death and we were mindful of the rules regarding activities in the church and considered cancelling it but decided a relaxed and friendly space to come and share thoughts and memories would be a good thing. Quiet music was played, space for prayer and quiet contemplation was not intruded upon and indeed it was a friendly and supportive place.

Kate Cooper, St Michael’s Silverstone, who raised £1,120 in total, our biggest contributor this year. This was using Just Giving.

We raised the money in memory of my late husband, David Cooper. He died just as the pandemic was starting and we never had any event in his memory. He had done the Ride and Stride twice before with Peter Coles and was a keen cyclist so it seemed fitting. He had been confirmed into the church the year before his death and we liked going into churches wherever we went. His daughter was keen on the idea and from our families, we just managed her and her boyfriend along with my daughter and son-in-law with whom David had a good relationship. However, as was evident from the amount raised, all David's friends and family were pleased to contribute to something in his memory.

Cyclists at Silverstone in memory of David Cooper

Pat Shrubb, St Mary’s, Roade

"Les and I walked to all the churches in the benefice on Saturday 10th September. The weather stayed dry and the temperature was comfortable to exercise in.

"Les and I would like to say a big thank you to Karen Stubbs who kindly did the transport for the day and was on standby with transport if needed. Karen dropped us both off at Courteenhall Church where we started the sponsored walk by going across the fields to St Mary’s Church, Roade.

"Over the course of the day there were volunteers who manned the foyer of St Mary’s to register the riders and striders and serve refreshments. We were welcomed by Jenny Dudley with her beaming smile and would like to say a big thank you to her and all the volunteers including Glenys Linford who set everything up first thing in the morning.

"We walked on to Roade Methodist Church where we met some cyclists who were raising funds for toilets to be installed in their church. After a little chat we carried on to Ashton church where we ate our lunch in the porch. After lunch we carried on to Hartwell Church where we enjoyed some more refreshments from Denise Brack and Susan Cross. Hartwell had a Hat exhibition which was very interesting.

"Karen came to Hartwell and enjoyed refreshments with us and kindly gave me a lift home. Les took a brisk walk home after ambling along with me for a few hours.

"Les and I would also like to say a big thank you to Eric Linford, the Ride and Stride co-ordinator [Local Organiser], who sourced all the volunteers for St Mary’s and all the sponsors who have donated £1,034, of which Northamptonshire Historic Church Trust will give 50% back to St Mary’s Church.

Ride and Stride 2021

A great big thank you ...

to all who took part in September 2021 and helped to make it another record-breaking year, despite all the restrictions and challenges!

The Grand Total raised was £56,195

We were all hoping for a more ’normal’ Ride and Stride Day with some of the benefits of lessons learnt during 2020; we were not disappointed and churches all tried very hard to rise to the challenge and show that we were back in business. On the day the weather was good and there were record numbers of Riders and Striders – not so many families as last year, now that Saturday activities are back, but noticeably more ‘silver cyclists’ on their e bikes venturing further with the knowledge that they could find some extra ‘umph’ from their battery to tackle those hills. Riders come back year after year often riding as groups of friends from their local church or in families, sometimes with the element of competition to see who can raise the most money or visit the most churches.

332 churches took part in Northamptonshire

Of them around 200 were manned for at least part of the time; it does make such a difference to have a welcome face there, perhaps with information about interesting features in the church and directions to their next stop. It is sometimes a struggle for churches to find volunteers to sit in the church but we have always suggested that church sitters can be sponsored for manning the church and this year it has been great to have "Pray and Stay" and "Knit and Natter" as novel ways of solving the problem! Of course, free refreshments offered by most churches figure highly in the rating of churches’ welcome. Coffee mornings and cream teas also raised the spirits and energy levels, and led to more visitors and welcome fund raising at the same time. Ride and Stride coincides with Heritage weekend and so some churches organise exhibitions for that as well as welcoming Riders and Striders.

There are very few Local Organisers now that are not on email and it has been much easier to have an ongoing dialogue with them and responses are much quicker. So, no big print out and a big saving again on a printing bill with the only cost being the mailing out of the Annual Report with a covering letter. Sponsor forms, posters, registers and Open Churches booklets; everything was done by email and also posted on the website. Again, we encouraged Local Organisers to keep us up to date with local changes in decisions about church openings.

Publicity and Promotion

The grand total to date for 2021 is £56,195 (including Gift Aid)

A magnificent total and we are grateful to all those churches who helped reach this figure. The following churches raised over £1000 each: Hinton in the Hedges, Kings Sutton, Marston Trussell, Oundle Holy Jesus RC, Stoke Doyle and Walgrave. (C of E unless mentioned otherwise). A special thank you to them.

This is yet another record-breaking year and a real tribute to all those volunteers who work to make Ride and Stride in Northamptonshire the success that it is particularly in these difficult times. Particularly:

The enthusiasm of Local Organisers who keep us informed of their church arrangements as they changed and persuaded folk to ride and stride and find sponsors.
Our team of Area Organisers who each have a group of Local Organisers, work tirelessly, firstly in the spring collating information about which churches will be open, and then sending out all the information to the Local Organisers.
Eddie Byland, our Treasurer who sends cheques for 50% of the amount received in sponsorship to each church.

And of course, thank you to all the Riders and Striders and all their sponsors. Without them we would not have reached that record breaking total!

News from the Riders and Striders - 2021

Walgrave Riders and Striders about to leave St Peter’s Church, Walgrave.

"We loved it - excellent exercise on our bikes (30 miles - 15 Churches) and a delicious picnic at Steeple Gidding Church in the sun. We also met several very interesting people - Winwick was having a coffee morning and Hemington had the most delicious brownies! Everyone was so friendly and welcoming that we felt it was a really good day and we raised some money too!" Daphne

Brian Withington strode to all seven churches in his benefice on his last day as Rector

Ride or Stride?

As Rector of the Seven Churches Benefice, the 2nd Saturday in September has usually found me cycling around the benefice with my daughter and young grandson. Regardless of the weather it has always been an enjoyable day, spending time with family, enjoying the local countryside and admiring the significant church buildings which feature so prominently in the landscape.

Alas COVID-19 caught up with my daughter and grandson this year and placed them in isolation, so I decided that rather than cycle ride I would stride the benefice instead. It proved a good decision and an excellent way of bidding farewell to the seven parishes just prior to my retirement. Setting out from Aldwincle mid-morning I walked the fields and woods along the Nene first to Wadenhoe and then on to Stoke Doyle. From Stoke Doyle I came back to Pilton before heading down to cross the river and wind my way up through the wood to Achurch. The 5 were completed by early afternoon before I set off on the long road to Clopton, and from there to Titchmarsh, where I decided to call it a day and ‘phoned Jacky (my wife) for a lift back to the Rectory. Striding was a good choice this year, for the slower pace gave me time to reflect on my ministry within the communities that make up the benefice and I found myself particularly reflecting on the people I had met who are no longer with us.

Ride or Stride? They are both enjoyable ways of engaging with the Northants Historic Churches Trust fund raising day and well worth doing.

Thank you to all who helped make my total sponsorship this year up to £240.

John Carter - St Peter’s Brackley

"We have a parishioner, Maggie Wright, who is disabled so can neither ride nor stride but wanted to help. She took it upon herself to organise a “Knit & Pray” on the R + S day and raised, by herself, £265 from the 26 others who took part."

Rodney Adhemar ventured from Northampton to the villages around Oundle.

"Many churches are staffed by volunteers offering refreshments and conversation. However not all. You may enter an open, but silent village church. Welcomed by stillness and the rhythmical ticking of a church clock. A powerful emotion of prayer may surround and envelope you. Keeping to the quiet back lanes between villages, and after the initial frenzy of "getting on with it", you adjust to the beauty of the natural world. People known to you but now departed may come strongly into your mind."

Richard Lewis - All Saints, Kettering

"I have long been the Local Organiser and this year decided that I would finally get round to doing something to raise funds for the Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust and All Saints Church."

"Not owning a bike or a horse and not particularly good at walking long distances I opted to drive around the Kettering Deanery and visit all 26 CofE churches."

"A prize of £25 was offered to the person who guessed the mileage I would travel or got closest to it."

"The route was planned and at about 10:00 am on Saturday 11th September I set off with my travelling companions (the wife and our friend Chris)."

"Warkton was first but we were too early to sign up to say we had visited. Off to Weekley where we were given a talk about the original Montague monuments. Geddington was crowded, not for our visit but there was a fund raising event being held around the village. Grafton Underwood, with its memorial window to the USAF stationed down the road at the airfield. New stained glass windows have recently been installed. Twywell, Slipton, Cranford (both churches) Burton Latimer and Barton Seagrave followed in fairly quick succession. A visit to four of the churches in Kettering before heading off to Broughton, Great Cransley, Thorpe Malsor and then Loddington. Rothwell, Desborough, where a London Red bus – there to transport wedding guests - blocked access to the church. Off to Braybrook, Dingley and Brampton Ash, where we enjoyed welcome refreshments. The bells of All Saints Rushton greeted our arrival, we were on the homeward stretch – St Andrews in Kettering to visit before going back to All Saints."

"It took 5 and a half hours to complete the circumnavigation of the deanery and we were warmly welcomed at all the manned churches, even if we did 'interrupt' garden maintenance and cleaning duties. The total raised at the time of writing is £424 and I would like to thank everyone for their generous sponsorship."

From Gill Douglas

"We have had a really good day but I am so pleased with my nine-year-old granddaughter, Hazel. At the eleventh hour she and her mother decided to walk round a few churches in our benefice. Because of challenges Hazel rides a trike, too dangerous for our roads. This is Hazel approaching St James Church, Hollowell."

Mary Watts at St Michael’s Kettering, the "tin tabernacle"

Ride and Stride 2020

Ride and Stride 2020 - certainly a strange year!

A Great Big Thank You to all who took part in September 2020 and helped to make it another record-breaking year, despite all the restrictions and challenges!

The Grand Total raised was £39,773

In the Spring we asked the question - "Should we go ahead?"

We knew that it was vitally necessary to raise money for the NHCT as, without normal fund-raising events, churches would need even more grants. Also, many churches had not been able to have their normal fundraising events so used the Ride and Stride as a source of extra income. This resulted in more churches than usual raising money. In the end it was all a great success, thanks to the determination and support of all those churches who did everything they could to take part in the event.

Most of the communication this year was by email and via the website which meant that we could have much more of a dialogue with Local Organisers as restrictions changed and churches were allowed or not allowed to open.

The only thing we could guarantee was that there would be a church there!

Participants were expecting many churches to be closed, but were delighted that so many found ways round it and still extended a warm welcome from their porches with generous refreshments outside. The sunny day meant that many churches took the opportunity to have socially distanced events in churchyards.

As ever we would like to thank all those who work hard to make Ride and Stride in Northamptonshire the success that it is particularly in this very difficult year:

The enthusiasm of Local Organisers who kept us informed of their church arrangements as they changed and persuaded folk to ride and stride and find sponsors
Our team of Area Organisers who each have a group of Local Organisers, worked tirelessly, firstly in the spring collating information about which churches will be open, and then sending out all the information to the Local Organisers.

Lastly thank you to all the Riders and Striders and all their sponsors. Without them we would not have reached that record breaking total!

Of course, with all the restrictions placed on people's movements this year a number of churches were unable to join in. Let's hope that next year we can return to normality!

News from the Riders and Striders

Ride and Stride - a different year by Mick Burns, Barnwell Local Organiser

Having been the local organiser at Barnwell for the past 9 years I approached this year's Ride & Stride with some trepidation, mainly due to the ongoing restrictions imposed and the uncertainty of the practical side of the access to the churches.

I had no need to worry, people and places responded accordingly and the churches visited were either manned and very welcoming or provided very good registration facilities. What a great day, sun shining and a cooling breeze, harder work pedalling uphill against the wind but easier going downhill with it.

This year's route took in some new churches to visit - Stoke Doyle with the largest cobweb ever seen across the Nave, preserved until services can resume as normal.

A field of alpacas laying in the shade of the trees and onto Pilton whose church stands away in a field where we met with other ride and striders but these were on horseback. Next was Wadenhoe set majestically in a field at the top of a hill overlooking the beautiful Nene valley, then through a field of Jacobs Flock sheep that wanted to follow us.

Aldwincle with two churches one of which was in use for "champing" (camping in churches), what a great idea keeping old churches in use.

Calling in at Achurch whose church is surrounded by trees and woods a completely different setting from all the others.

A long haul uphill to Clopton where a picnic on straw bales was much welcomed and enjoyed. Thurning whose church is set in the village and then Luddington in the Brook, a lovely little church hidden across a field with only sheep and horses as neighbours. Hemington set right on the road side a little way from the village houses and then homeward bound to Barnwell where both the church and chancel were manned for the day.

Ride and Stride in the year of Covid from Burton Latimer Local Organiser Nicholas Loakes

I set off from Burton Latimer on my own at 8.40am on a beautiful sunny morning. We had decided not to cycle as a group in view of the Covid19 situation. My wife prepared a picnic lunch and tea for me as we were expecting limited refreshments on route. I decided to go westwards initially, taking in 17 villages with the furthest point west being Brixworth's marvellous Saxon church. At Pytchley I met the wonderful Rosemary Eady who has manned this church for as long as I can remember. 6 of us arrived at the same time which was the largest gathering I encountered all day. At Old I met a very nice lady who used to manage several British Shoe Corporation shops, and as I had been involved in shoe manufacturing before I retired, we had a great conversation about shoes and shoe retailing, and she told me she had sold many pairs of our shoes during her working life!

I had my picnic lunch in the porch of Sywell church. There was nobody manning this church; just the Register was there, so I relaxed in the shade of the porch and enjoyed the lovely view over the surrounding countryside.

My Eastern circuit started at Finedon church where I arrived at the same time as several magnificently dressed wedding guests. I felt very out of place, but there was a gentleman sitting on a bench on the edge of the graveyard who was looking out for cyclists, so I didn't need to get too near the church and wedding party. I had my tea sitting outside Woodford church. This church is at the bottom of a very steep hill, but the view from the bench outside the porch must be one of the finest in the county.

My furthest point east was Gt. Addington, and this circuit included the parish church of Grafton Underwood. Here the gentleman manning the register asked me if I would like the see their three new stained glass windows which have only recently been installed in the chancel. They are designed by the renowned artist Thomas Denny, and are quite magnificent. This was the only church I actually entered during the day, but what a treat, and the sun was shining through the back of one of these windows which made it absolutely stunning.

So there you have it. 59 miles cycled and 28 churches visited.

The weather was perfect and the event very well organised. Social distancing was maintained everywhere, and I had some delightful conversations with helpers throughout the day.

Let's hope lots of money has been raised for this excellent cause!

Nicholas Loake, Burton Latimer

Preston Capes

Keen runner, Dave Madden, aimed to run a half marathon but in fact covered 21 miles visiting eight churches. He was accompanied by his son Archie on a bicycle as safety out-rider. In total, 11 riders and striders took part resulting in a terrific uptake for sponsorship of just over £1200 for NHCT and St Peter and St Paul, Preston Capes.