Coming to a verge near you, the Bike Ride, Walk & Drive roadside signs! This means it is count down to this year’s event on Saturday, 13th September. The posters, sponsorship forms and paperwork for the event should also arrive with your Churchwardens this week and don’t forget that if you are not linked to a church you can download or print out the forms you need now or register for the event on our website by following this link.
Thanks to you it continues to be popular and well-loved, attracting over 150 new participants last year. The fundraising on the day enables us to give grants to places of worship who are in desperate need of assistance. We say this every year, but we really do mean it, thank you for taking part and for making sure that your churches are open on the day. We do know that it is increasingly difficult to find people to be in the church on the day, but it really doesn’t matter. It is enough to have the door to the church unlocked and the paperwork in an obvious place so that people can see these amazing buildings and record their visit. A friendly note accompanying the paperwork and some biscuits is great and someone there to greet really is the icing on the cake but is absolutely not necessary.
The Bike Ride, Walk & Drive is a national event, and it is heartwarming to think of people of all ages visiting churches around the country when you are cycling, walking or driving around Norfolk. Last year we came third in the county rankings, only Suffolk and Kent raised more. Forget the rivalry in football, we have a Bike Ride Derby on our hands! Go Norfolk!
Don’t forget the competitions that run on the day. The Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate, awarded to the participant who raises the most amount of money is a wonderful thing to aim for and the ‘Most Improved Fundraising Church’ gives each parish an opportunity to win £1,000 on top of the money raised on the day. It is a real incentive to any parish that hasn’t taken part in the Bike Ride for a long time to do so. The photographic competition is gaining momentum. Taking photographs of your day and sending them in to us automatically enters you into the chance of winning £50 and seeing your photograph published in the EDP.
Although not strictly a competition it is interesting to note that the most visited church in 2024 was in Norwich – St George’s, Tombland, which hosted 56 visitors. Thirteen arrived on bicycle, one by car and 42 on foot. They really did witness a Bike Ride, Walk and Drive! The most visited rural church was the small church of St Mary’s, Barningham Winter, pictured below, which sits in a Humphry Repton landscape in North Norfolk. This quiet church welcomed 55 people, not surprisingly none on foot, all were on bicycles, including a peloton of 14 who were very grateful for the refreshments that were left. This is an example of church that was not manned on the day but each of the 55 people who visited were grateful that the door was unlocked and they could enjoy the church and its idyllic setting.
So as we say, pump up your tyres, pack a picnic and get ready for the 2025 Norfolk Churches Trust Bike Ride, Walk & Drive.
