Ride & Stride for the Lincolnshire Churches Trust 2024

This annual event will take place on Saturday 14th September 2024, all around the county (and most of England, in fact.) and it would be great to have as many people from our area as possible involved in one way or another.

What’s it all about?
The event is a fundraiser for the Lincolnshire Churches Trust, which was founded in 1952 by Lord Ancaster and Bishop Harland to preserve and protect our churches. It is non-denominational and will help any Christian church or chapel which is over 100 years old.  The Trust is a vital source of funding to our lovely Lincolnshire churches for things like re-roofing and masonry work, and this deanery has benefited through grants given in recent years, so their work is very important to us.  Each participating church keeps half of the money raised by its cyclists/walkers, so raising as much as possible promotes the work of All Saints too!

What happens on the day?
On cycle ride day, participants visit any of the churches supporting the event (countywide) by walking, cycling or, if you’re feeling adventurous horse-riding, scooting or even pogo stick jumping!  You can choose how many to visit and how far you wish to travel – there is no set route.  All you need to do is ask friends and family to sponsor you either per church visited, or to pledge a donation for your efforts.  The visitable churches in East Elloe this year are:

Fleet St Mary; Fleet Hargate Baptist; Gedney St Mary; Holbeach All Saints; Holbeach Holy Trinity Catholic; Long Sutton St Mary; Long Sutton Baptist; Lutton St Nicholas; Moulton All Saints; Moulton Chapel Methodist; Moulton Chapel St James; Sutton Bridge St Matthew and Whaplode St Mary, but you could travel to other areas of Lincolnshire if you wish – the full county list of churches is available on the Trust’s website, or from me.

How can I help?
If you would like to cycle, walk etc. round a few of our local churches, (or further afield), please ask me for a sponsor form, pick one up in church on service days, or download/print one from http://www.lincolnshirechurchestrust.org.uk There are many interesting churches (of all Christian denominations) on the official list to visit.  Why not ask friends to take part too?

(Please note that the Highway Code should be followed at all times, and that participating children should be accompanied by an adult.)

If you can’t walk far or don’t have a bike there are other ways to help, too:

• We need stewards in all the churches to welcome participants and sign their forms. At All Saints we have a stewards’ rota of 1-hour slots – please see the list at the back of church and sign up if you can help.
• Sponsor one of our cyclists/walkers.
• Put up a poster in a window or on a notice board to help spread the word.

If you can help, even in a small way, please get in touch with me.  Oh, and pray for good weather, please!

For further details go to the Trust’s website:  http://www.lincolnshirechurchestrust.org.uk

Thank you

Kim Biggs
Deanery Organiser
01406 426631