Author: shctuser

SUFFOLK CHURCHES FUNDRAISER BEATS PREVIOUS TOTAL with very nearly £200,000 raised. 

Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride annual fundraising event for Suffolk’s church buildings, held on Saturday 11^th September, has topped the previous year’s total once again. 

Suffolk Historic Churches Trust are pleased to announce that, with the counting nearly complete, just short of £200,000 has been raised by the hundreds of cyclists, walkers, vintage & classic car enthusiasts and church volunteers who took part in the annual  ‘Suffolk Churches Day’ events on September 11^th 2021. 

Ride & Stride participants nominate a church or chapel to receive half their sponsor money, and the other half goes to the Trust. The Trust’s share will be given as grants to help communities restore or improve churches and chapels of all denominations.

Over 500 churches across Suffolk take part in the fundraising day which is organised by a vast team of volunteers and is supported by many non-church-goers. 

“Riders and walkers for the Trust surprised us again with another bumper event, raising even more than last year,” said Patrick Grieve, Chairman, Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride.. “Many thanks to all our loyal and energetic participants, dedicated supporters and generous sponsors. Suffolk raises more for the event than any other county in the kingdom.”

Participants in Ride and Stride chose their own route around Suffolk’s churches, visiting as many or as few as they wished. For the third year, Ride and Stride was joined by Pedal & Drive, its sister event. Over 100 vintage and classic cars, set off from various points in Suffolk to enjoy a given route around five churches, whilst competing in a quiz and photo competition. The Trust is pleased to announce that the drivers raised over £15,000 towards the total. 

“The churches and chapels of Suffolk will be so grateful for the efforts of all those who biked, walked or drove their vintage or classic car to raise money that will go towards their upkeep. Raising £200,000 in one day is a huge achievement!” said Geoffrey Probert, Trust Chairman. 

In 2022 Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride, and Pedal & Drive, will be held on Saturday 10^th September.

On Monday 11th October, the Trust Chairman, Geoffrey Probert welcomed all present to Haughley Park Barns for the first Annual Meeting since 2019 (last year’s having been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic):  

The 2020 Ride and Stride and Pedal and Drive was a great success, with £192,000 raised in one day.  We think we have granted about £7 million to the churches and chapels of Suffolk since the inception of the Trust.  

A fortnightly e-letter – ‘The Churches and Chapels Chat’ – was established during the pandemic, with contributions from SHCT Trustees and other supporters.  This has been well received and will be continued.  

The GS2222 proposals from the Church of England, aimed at simplifying existing legislation so as “to manage the disposal of churches no longer needed for public worship” are proving contentious.  SHCT is facilitating responses to the proposals by requesting its network of area and local Ride and Stride organisers to raise awareness of the issues involved with a view to inviting comments and representations.

Yalda Davis has completed her project to raise money for SHCT, The Churches Conservation Trust and The Suffolk Wildlife Trust by playing her cello in all of Suffolk’s 511 medieval churches and chapels.  She started in April 2017 and ended at St Bartholomew’s, Orford in September 2021.  This has been a remarkable achievement, bringing wonderful music to Suffolk’s beautiful churches while helping to raise money for their preservation.

Various changes are pending within the ranks of SHCT Trustees.  Martin Favell has indicated his intention to step down at the end of the current financial year in April 2022.  Martin’s lengthy contribution to the Trust, as Treasurer for twelve years then Chairman for seven years, has been immense.  Patrick Grieve is also standing down, handing over the Chairmanship of the Ride and Stride to Simon Ronan.  Again, Patrick’s contribution to the success of the Trust, particularly as Chairman of the Trust’s leading fundraising event (which he took over in 2008), is hard to overstate.  Simon Tennent will be retiring as a Trustee in the near future.  Simon was for many years Secretary of the Grants Committee, and his experience and good sense have been greatly valued.  Thankfully, Simon will continue to serve on the Grants Committee.  Finally, Mike Kiely, who has fewer years to his name as our Hon Secretary, is moving on but what he lacks in years he has more than compensated for in his efficiency, hard work and helpfulness.

We are grateful to Bishop Mike Harrison for joining us this evening as our speaker and for the support he and Bishop Martin gave us this year in publicising the Ride and Stride.

At its October meeting in 2021, the SHCT Grants Committee awarded ten grants totalling £36,200

All Saints, Great Glemham

The Baptist Chapel, Stradbroke

St Mary, Barking

St Mary at the Elms, Ipswich

St Mary, Rickinghall Inferior

St Margaret, Thrandeston

St Andrew, Mutfod

St Mary, Stoke by Nayland

All Saints, Kesgrave

All Saints, Hundon

Congratulations to the successful churches. The next Grants committee is in January 2022. For more information on how to apply for a grant from Suffolk Historic Churches Trust: https://shct.org.uk/grants/

For the second year, the photo competition for those taking part in Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride has resulted in some excellent photos of our wonderful churches and those taking part on the day. 

Our independent judge really enjoyed looking at all the entries and wanted to pass on her congratulations. She said she has now discovered some churches she hasn’t yet visited… but will do soon. 

The winners are Tessa Wise, for her lovely set of six photos that ideally portrayed the required categories (Entrance door of a church or chapel, a memorial plate, plaque or gravestone, a non-conformist church, a church window, a free choice…and a selfie ). She receives a £75 book token as her prize.

“It was a great day out exploring Suffolk churches and meeting fellow participants and volunteers. We walked 14 miles, visited 9 churches and still had the energy to go to St Mary’s church, Ixworth for Hymns and Pimms at 6pm!” Tessa said.

The independent judge also chose the photo of a harvest church window at Langham, as her favourite from all the entries. Congratulations to Graham Hughes from Wetherden, who receives a £25 book token.

The prizes were provided by a supporter of Suffolk Historic Churches Trust who organise the fundraising day each year. Money raised is divided 50/50 with the participants chosen church and the Trust, which gives grants for the church restoration and improvement projects. 

The sister event, Pedal and Drive for veteran and classic cars also held a photo competition which was won by Catherine Hollywood, and was taken at  Catherine won a bottle of champagne. 

Next year’s events will be held on Saturday 10 September. Details on www.shct.org.uk

To see more of the photos look at Ride and Stride and Pedal and Drive pages of the website.

Hundreds of churches opened across Suffolk on Saturday 11th September to welcome a thousand or so walkers and cyclists for the annual Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride Day, when sponsored participants could choose their route around the county. 113 veteran and classic cars also took part in the sister event, Pedal & Drive, leaving from fivedifferent country houses, along six assigned routes, visiting six churches, before assembling at Lavenham.

“ I was extremely pleased that the day went so well and, by the end, the sun was shining too. People have been very generous with their time, organising this big fundraising day,  and with their donations for Suffolk Historic Churches Trust,” said Trust Chairman, Geoffrey Probert, as he watched the cars arrive. “I spent the morning going to churches that the cars weren’t visiting and I saw lots of cyclists and walkers, and the volunteers signing people in were pleased with the number of visitors they had already had.”

This was the 40th annual sponsored cycling event, an idea that began in Suffolk before spreading across the country.  Last year the day raised £190,000 that was divided between the Trust, to be given in grants to restore and improve church buildings, with the remaining half of the sponsorship money given to the church chosen by each cyclist or walker. 

Next year’s events will be held on Saturday 10th September. 

(Look at the Ride and Stride and the Pedal & Drive pages for this years photo galleries. The photo competition for Ride and Stride closes on Weds 15th September. Winners to be announced. )

SUFFOLK CHURCHES PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETION 

Saturday 11 September 2021 9-5pm

Many people walking or cycling around Suffolk on Ride and Stride Day like to take photos so we have a competition. The lucky winner/s will be contacted and will also be announced on our website. www.shct.org.uk Entry is free, but we ask that you are sponsored by family and friends on your journey. (We give grants to help preserve our beautiful church buildings.) There is a sponsor form on  www.shct.org.uk  or you can fundraise via www.justgiving.com/suffolkhistoricchurches.

The prize is a £75 voucher, for the best set of photos, and £25 voucher for the best individual photo. (They may be taken by the same person of course!)  The prizes are  kindly sponsored by a supporter. 

The six photos to be taken on Ride and Stride Day 2021 will be of:

1. The entrance door of a church or chapel
2. A memorial plate, plaque or gravestone
3. A non-conformist church (ie, not Church of England but Methodist, Baptist, Unitarian Meeting House, etc)
4. A church window.
5. A free choice… whatever you wish to mark about your day.
6. A selfie of you celebrating outside a church when you complete your journey. (Cheers, waves and excitement are encouraged!) 

The submitted photos may be used for publicity for the Trust, encouraging others to support our work, and the photographer will be credited when any are used. 

Please take your six photos on Saturday 11^th September, Ride and Stride Day, then email (by the closing date, 15.9.2021) to shct@btconnect.com An independent judge will choose the winners. Please include:

Name :                                               email:                                     

Phone:

Address

Good luck!

£38,000 has been awarded to churches applying to the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust this July.

At our July meeting the Grants Committee made awards to these churches and wish them all the best with their restorations and improvement projects.

St Peter & Paul, Clare

St Mary, Bacton

St Andrew, Rushmere St Andrew

St Andrew, Bredfield

St Mary, Langham

St Mary, Horham

St John, Needham Market

St Peter, Wenhaston

SS Peter & Mary, Stowmarket

St Mary, Badwell Ash

The Grants Committee welcome applications from Suffolk churches, chapels and meeting halls. See the Grants section of this website. Meetings are held quarterly.

An invitation: Come and see the round tower, the plaque to Basil Brown ( the discover of the Sutton Hoo ship burial) and some wonderful art.

YALDA DAVIS and her cello

In April 2017, I started a project to play my cello in all of Suffolk’s 500 medieval churches. The story began, really, with childhood bike rides punctuated by stops at village churches. Then it continued with my first ever concert in a Suffolk church at the age of 13, in Wattisham. When I moved to Suffolk in 2011, I started to explore the county more widely, wanting to get to know it intimately and discover all the hidden corners that no one will ever direct you to. My astonishment at the beauty and uniqueness of all the churches I stopped to visit on a journey to the coast was the next stage… accompanied by the acquisition of so many animals that I knew I would have to find new adventures close to home instead of far away. The addition of the cello was the last, entirely personal, piece of the puzzle to fall into place.

When I discovered just how many churches there are in Suffolk, I nearly abandoned the idea on the spot. It took another six weeks of mulling it over and chatting with friends to get past the feeling that it was simply too crazy to contemplate… 

I will finish my project with a concert in St Bartholomew’s Church, Orford, on 4th September 2021 at 4pm, which will be my very last Suffolk church. 

As well as raising money for individual village churches by giving concerts, I have been fundraising through Justgiving for three charities involved in the upkeep of Suffolk’s churches. These are:

• The Suffolk Historic Churches Trust, which provides grants towards the maintenance and repair of Suffolk’s churches;
• The Churches Conservation Trust, which cares for over 20 of Suffolk’s redundant medieval churches; and
• The Suffolk Wildlife Trust, which supports and advises churches in the management of churchyards for wildlife.

I would love to reach my target of raising £1000 for each of these three charities by the time my project finishes. If you value Suffolk’s churches and have enjoyed my blog or concerts over the last three years, please do consider making a donation.

YALDA’S FINAL CONCERT IN HER CHURCHES TOUR:

Saturday 4th September, 4pm. Concert in Orford church. My 500th Suffolk church (in theory)! Definitely my last in any case. Programme to include the Schubert String Quintet in C major with Florence Cooke and Rosie Lowdell (violins), Kurosh Davis (viola) and Sheida and Yalda Davis (cellos). 

Tickets are now available (until 10pm on 3 September) for £10-£20 on https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/500suffolkchurches or Jacki Maslin on 01394 450799

Monday 28^th June 2021, broadcaster and Suffolk resident Bill Turnbull, a vintage car, (a 1925 12/50 Alvis, called Belinda), and Suffolk Historic Churches Trust walkers and cyclists, launched this year’s Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride and Pedal and Drive event, which will be held in September. 

Held at St John the Baptist Church, Badingham, the launch was held to announce that full details are now available for the several thousand cyclists and walkers of all ages, (and vintage and classic cars drivers) who will take part in the annual fundraising event on Saturday 11th September 2021.   

Against all the odds, the day-long event was held in September 2020 and the sponsorship money raised was the highest for ten years at £190,000

Broadcaster Bill Turnbull said, 

“This is a very good cause, and it combines two of the things that Suffolk should be proud of – countryside that people can cycle around and terrific churches. Churches need the help and it’s a fun way to raise funds.  I’m not in the position to cycle at the moment but, as soon as I can, I’m going to get on a bike and do it myself. It gets people out in the fresh air and, fingers crossed, it will be a lovely day ..and people will learn a lot too.”

Cyclists and walkers get sponsored on their journey around some of Suffolk’s churches, choosing their own route, long or short. The money they raise help save this wonderful part of our history, with half going to the Trust to give out as grants for church buildings, and half to the cyclists/walkers chosen church. Hundreds of churches will be open to welcome participants on Saturday 11th September.

Also, on the same day, a vintage and classic car rally is held with cars travelling a provided route, around a selection of churches. 

Christopher Banham created a lot of interest in Badingham, when he brought  his 1925, 12/50 Alvis called ‘Belinda’, to the launch. It was bought by his family in 1933 for £ 33. The launch was held at St John the Baptist church, as they have a huge restoration project underway, and have received a grant towards the cost, from Suffolk Historic Churches Trust. 

Sponsor forms and full details for Ride and Stride and Pedal and Drive are now available in Suffolk churches and from the Trust website. Donations and sponsorship can also be collected via Just Giving.

“After the unexpected success of last year, the challenge this year is to repeat or better it. Our churches and chapels need the funds, and after lockdown we all need the fresh air and exercise,” said Patrick Grieve, the Chairman of Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride.

The annual ride, began in Suffolk in 1982 but has now spread across England, appeals to families, local history lovers, keen cyclists and walkers, church supporters and those who just enjoy an annual trip around the villages and towns of Suffolk. 

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