What is Ride, Stride & Drive?

A great day out discovering England's churches

Ride, Stride & Drive - the foremost annual fun fund-raising event to help preserve churches and chapels and keep them active in our communities.

Date for your diary - Ride, Stride & Drive 2026 will be held on Saturday 12th September

New for 2026

The new title is Ride, Stride & Drive as it was agreed at our recent AGM that driving should be included as a legitimate means of travelling from church to church. Sponsors can be obtained in the usual way or participants can sponsor themselves. We hope this means more older supporters can take part and that many churches, especially those on busy roads or rather out of the way, will receive more visitors and more people will take delight in Northamptonshire’s beautiful churches.

This year we are also encouraging Local Organisers to send sponsor money, if they wish, direct to the NHCT bank account. Our account details are shown on the Home Page of this website, also on the Advice to Participants and the Payment Slip both of which have been updated and can be downloaded below. The Advice also gives details of how participants can use online fundraising.

Bob Smith, one of our Area Organisers has designed a cycle route starting at Great Brington, or you can start at one of the other churches on the route. This can be downloaded below.

History

Ride and Stride was ‘born’ in Suffolk in 1982 as a sponsored cycle ride or walk and is held annually, in virtually every county in England. It is the main fund-raising event for the county churches trusts. It is now a sponsored event for cyclists, joggers, walkers and horse riders. Any mode of transport can be used as long as sponsors are happy; a couple of people have used vintage cars!

Ride and Stride is a countrywide event always held on the second Saturday in September.

Where does the money go?

In Northamptonshire, 50% of the money raised and any Gift Aid is retained by the Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust and a cheque for 50% of the money raised is sent to the church chosen by each of the participants. The money raised, along with other funds, is used to give grants for preserving, restoring and improving churches, chapels and meeting houses in Northamptonshire whether they are historic or not.

Downloads

Download the poster

Download the 2026 Register here. This is for Local Organisers to put in their church for participants to sign.

Download the 2026 Sponsor form here. When printing, select "Print both sides".

Download the Payment Slip here. It's important that this is completed and sent with all payments to the Treasurer including online payments.

Download the 2026 list of participating churches in Excel format.
Click on the tabs at the bottom to see churches in that deanery.

Download Advice to Participants here.

Cycle routes from Great Brington
Description

What happens?

Some participants challenge themselves to visit as many churches as they can by their chosen mode of transport. Others prefer a more leisurely approach, visiting fewer churches and taking more time at each. There is no age limit - it is a great family activity - and you plan your own route. Churches are usually open from 10.00am to 6.00pm although there are some that close earlier.