The first set of outstanding service certificates for church volunteers who have helped Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride event (originally known as a sponsored Bike Ride) have been awarded by Suffolk Historic Churches Trust.
The twenty volunteer Area Organisers across the county were asked to contact church organisers for their suggestions for worthy recipients. Tessa Forsdike, the current Area Organiser for the Ipswich area and a member of the Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House, arranged an afternoon tea at the Meeting House, where three certificates were presented by Simon Ronan, Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride Chairman.
The certificates were presented to Linda King from Ipswich Unitarian Meeting House, Sue Adair from St Mary-le-Tower church and Andrew Leach and his wife Jackie Leach from St Mary at the Elms church, Ipswich.
ith Simon Ronan
“The Suffolk Historic Churches sponsored Ride and Stride has been an annual event for over 40 years,” said Simon Ronan. “It is the sole fundraising event for the Trust. The donations from this popular county event fund grants to churches of all faiths for repairs and maintenance. The Trust relies on volunteers to help with the fundraise and man the churches during the hours of the ride. As chairman of Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride, it gives me great pleasure to award certificates of long service for their dedication and kindness. It is a small token of our gratitude, but also an expression of the importance they are to our charity. Our churches are houses of prayer, but they also have a historic significance in our villages and towns, and are an important part of our fabric.”
The hundreds of supporters walking or cycling around their chosen route from over 500 churches that are open on the day, donate half their sponsorship to their chosen church, chapel or meeting house and the other half to the Trust to be given in grants to help preserve church buildings. Anyone is welcome to take part, not just church-goers. Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride 2024 is on Saturday 14th September. Click HERE for more details.
More Outstanding Service Certificates will be awarded by the Trust as nominations come in from Area Organisers.
The nominations this time read:
Linda King, from the Unitarian Meeting House, nominated by the Meeting House trustees – Linda has supported the SHCT Ride and Stride since even before the ‘stride’ part was included and every year raises funds. One year, having already visited the Ipswich churches several times, she took the train to Norwich and visited Norfolk churches … but the funds came back to Suffolk! It is difficult to estimate how much she has raised, but definitely in the £1000s.
Sue Adair from St Mary le Tower church in Ipswich has been involved and supporting the event for over 30 years, raising an estimated over £10,000 in that time. She was nominated by Bridget Hanley.
Andrew Leach and his wife Jackie Leach – from St Mary at the Elms church, Ipswich. Both have been involved since the start, so over 25 years – nominated by Sarah Beeston and Fr John Thackray. Sarah wrote – ‘There are two people who certainly deserve recognition for their stalwart contribution to Ride and Stride over many many years, they are our organist Andrew Leach and his wife (and one of church wardens) Jackie . Every year, come rain, shine or torrential gale Andrew will be cycling around the county visiting lots of churches. There have been many occasions when Andrew has had rehearsal commitments on the Saturday afternoon when Ride & Stride is taking place, but he still goes out early in the morning on his bike to raise money for our church and Suffolk Historic Churches Trust. Most years Jackie does join him, but even if she isn’t cycling she is tireless in getting sponsors and then collecting the money. I cannot think of a year since its inception where Andrew and Jackie have not actively been involved in this event, and I have been our local co-ordinator for over 12 years. So if both Andrew and Jackie could be recognised it would be a wonderful mark of appreciation for what they have done and the money they have raised.’ Each year they have raised at least £250 and this last year it was £400.
