| Bishop Rides and Some Stride to Support Churches | 6th Sep 2009 | Download | Email to a Friend |
It’s amazing what you can achieve in just one day and year after year hundreds of cyclists and walkers make a commitment to visit as many churches as they can raising money from sponsorship for our County’s important, historic church buildings. The date for your diaries this year is September the 12th and more churches than ever this time have pledged to be open to allow cyclists and walkers to make a visit.
Divine Inspiration and The Diocese of Coventry, are supporting the Warwickshire and Coventry Historic Churches Trust as they encourage participation and reap financial rewards that they pass on to churches like yours facing bills for repair and other development projects.
The Trust now has its own website and by following this link www.warwickshirechurches.org.uk you will find downloadable forms to allow you to take part and some details of organised routes that you can follow. This list has steadily grown over the past three years and new this year is a Dassett Hills route. There are now 10 routes in total, some easier than others, and you are also free to cycle wherever you like using the Open Churches list to help you plan your own route.
The exciting news is that Bishop Christopher is taking part and supporting this important event. We know that our Bishop is a keen cyclist – you may remember his mammoth tour of the Deaneries on his bike soon after he joined us in 2008. Why not follow his excellent example and join in this year? Will Hawkes, the Ride and Stride Co-ordinator is cheered by the Bishop’s commitment to ride on the 12th of September “I am really delighted that Bishop Christopher has offered to join the Ride and Stride event this year. Although I know he is a keen cyclist his presence on the ride will show the importance he attaches to keeping our wonderful heritage of historic churches in good repair, and will also help to raise the profile of this important national event and the work of the County Historic Churches Trust.”
Details of churches that plan to be open on the 12th of September are on the Trust’s website and will appear on the Divine Inspiration site closer to the event. If your church is not on the list and you think that arrangements could be made for opening up on that day please get in touch with Will Hawkes at the Trust on 01789 266 415 or e-mail him at hawkes01@btinternet.com [ Ed. We are yet to hear from 50 churches who have not yet responded with their opening arrangements!]