The Big Day for Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride 2026 was on Saturday 12th September. Thank you to all who took part, volunteered or sponsored!
2026 RIDE AND STRIDE CHURCH PHOTO Competition. (To enter we needed two images taken on Ride and Stride Day – one of your favourite church or church feature, and one of yourself on the journey) .
The winner is IAN HEAD, pictured with his friend Richard Bertram. “We cycled 45 miles. The photos show us standing outside St Mary of Pity at Burgate, and inside is the tomb of William de Burgate, and his wife Alianora with fine brasses.” Ian has won a £50 book voucher and a certificate. Congratulations!
Click HERE for the 2026 Ride and Stride Gallery which includes the runners-up and entries for our photo competition.
A special thank you to Charlie Haylock who was our ‘celebrity’ this year. Not only did help with an amazing launch photo shoot but volunteered to be a greeter on our big day!
Don’t forget! The volunteers sitting in churches as welcomers can be sponsored too. Ideal for a church taking part who doesn’t have anyone to Ride or Stride on their behalf.
Our big fundraising day 2025 raised £220,000!!! We will announce this year’s total later in the year when all the sponsor money is in.
RIDE AND STRIDE IS A NATIONAL EVENT but how did a churches fundraising event, that started in Suffolk, end up as a national fundraiser? It was with the help of a Kessingland policeman on a bike – and some VERY long cycle rides! Read the full story HERE
WHAT IS RIDE AND STRIDE?
The annual Sponsored Ride and Stride is a national event, and every second Saturday in September cyclists, walkers and runners are out making money for their local county Churches Trust.
The idea started in Suffolk, and is now held across England, with Suffolk leading the table of funds raised. The Ride and Stride is the main source of income to Suffolk Historic Churches Trust to enable it to make grants to churches and chapels of all denominations towards repair and restoration costs.
Ride and Stride is run entirely by volunteers and is inter-denominational, with participants sponsored for each place of worship visited between 9.00am and 5.00pm on Ride and Stride Day or with a donation, regardless of the number of churches visited.
The money raised by each cyclist or walker is shared equally between the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust and the place of worship nominated by the participant.
As important as the participants are the many volunteers who give up the day to man the churches and chapels and sign in the cyclists and walkers as they arrive. Hundreds of places of worship are manned during the day and that takes quite a team of volunteers! It is a real community effort that is the lifeblood of the Trust.
————————————————————–
TAKING PART IN RIDE AND STRIDE – walking, cycling, running!
1A Suffolk has been split into a number of areas, each with its Ride and Stride Area Organiser, and each parish has its own Local Organiser, who will be able to supply the necessary forms. Your local church or chapel should have details of your own Area Organiser, who can put you in touch with the Local Organiser looking after your place of worship. If you need further assistance, please telephone or email the SHCT office – 01787 883884 shct@btconnect.com
….. or
1B Download the list of churches open and the sponsorship form by clicking on these links:
and follow the instructions in the form.
2 PLAN YOUR ROUTE – as many or as few churches and chapels as you like, wherever you like.
3 SIGN UP YOUR SPONSORS – JustGiving is the easiest way. NB: please ensure you say which place of worship 50 per cent of your money should go to.
Click Fundraising-with-Just-Giving.pdf
for some advice on using JustGiving.
4 ENJOY YOUR WALK OR CYCLE RIDE ON ‘RIDE AND STRIDE DAY’ – At manned churches they will sign your form and give you a warm welcome. At unattended churches you can log yourself.
5 AFTER THE RIDE – When you have collected your sponsorship money, please hand this over to your Ride and Stride Local Organiser or send your total sponsorship money direct to the Ride and Stride Treasurer David Gould, by cheque payable to SHCT, ensuring that you clearly identify the church or chapel you wish to benefit. David can also be contacted if you have any queries. His contact details are:
email: davidngould6@gmail.com
Telephone: 01473 253838
Address: 7 Karen Close, Ipswich, IP1 4LP
Thank you!!! You have helped beautiful Suffolk churches to be repaired, restored or improved for future generations.
JUSTGIVING: Click https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/suffolk-churches-ride-and-stride-2026 to enter the Suffolk Churches Ride and Stride 2026 page on the JustGiving website, where you can log into your account and donate. If you are unfamiliar with JustGiving, it is easy to set up your own online JustGiving page by selecting “Sign up” on the top right of the page and entering the details requested. Please ensure that the place of worship you wish to benefit is clearly specified.
Our churches and chapels need our help more than ever, so please support this vital annual event. Half of your sponsorship money will go to the Trust to be given in grants for church repairs, and half will go to the church of your choosing.
Message to Church and Area Organisers: We are now able to offer online banking for Ride and Stride payments. If you would like to use this facility please, when sending in the sponsorship money, include your church’s bank account details on the white remittance slip. Alternatively, phone the details to the treasurer on 01473 253838.