Ride & Stride at St James, 10th September

Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust helps to look after church buildings in Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and North Bristol, a region with over 620 historic churches, chapels and meeting houses. The buildings are very diverse, but each has a story to tell in the history of its community. Over its 40+ years in existence the Trust has supported countless communities in carrying out work to repair, conserve or install new facilities in their churches. They typically offer grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 towards each project they approve. And their role extends beyond the funding to encouragement and advice.

Alongside legacies and donations, the main source of the Trust’s funds is the money raised each September through the Ride+Stride campaign. The name reflects the main fund-raising effort, which is a sponsored tour of some of the area’s churches, whether on foot, horseback, by bicycle or even by car, but it has now expanded to encompass all sorts of fund-raising events.

We at St James have taken part in Ride+Stride for several years now, at first by doing a sponsored walk, and more recently by offering a breakfast in church and asking for sponsorship of the team of cooks and servers. This year you can do both – come along to Westerleigh for a cooked breakfast on Saturday 10 September, then join a group setting off for a sponsored walk at 11 o’clock. Sponsor forms will be available in all our churches in August so that you can badger your family and friends for support! (Note: the walk is not compulsory, you’re welcome just to enjoy the breakfast as usual.)