Ride and Stride 2019

Saturday Sept 14th was a glorious day for cycling and walking around Oxfordshire churches. Carolyn Roche writes: "What fantastic weather for a bike ride! This year my cycling friend Barbara joined me and having done this ride for four years it was lovely to see it through new eyes. As we usually cycle out for coffee we began with a stop at Childrey Café. Fuelled by caffeine we set off to visit the first of the fifteen churches on our route. This was Childrey Methodist Church and around the corner was St. Mary's. A pleasant ride along the side of the Vale led us to Sparsholt. Here the signer-in was sitting out at the gate in the sunshine. Refuelled by a chocolate it was on, via Westcot, to Kingston Lisle. The person here was very keen to show us round this lovely little church. Onto Uffington where we could have a comfort break and then onto Baulking. From here there is a lovely long flat ride – very enjoyable! – out to the A417. Luckily not long on this road before turning off to Goosey and then onto Denchworth. Here we sat in the sun to refuel ourselves with lunch and then onto the two churches in Grove. Finally back into Wantage with five churches to visit here and the end of our 20 mile journey. We had a lovely ride, saw some beautiful and interesting country churches and met some kind and hospitable people. Roll on 2020"! Alison & Clive Phillips set off later, after lunch, and cycled over the same route as Carolyn but added the two Letcombe churches (but not the Childrey Café!) and covered 22 miles. Alison Brown and June & Alan Grunwald walked, setting off from Cogges Farm, near Witney and visited 9 churches in Witney, Ducklington and Curbridge. They walked 12 miles, which wasn't the planned distance (!!) and enjoyed rock cakes in Ducklington and a fine Victoria sponge in Curbridge (which probably cancelled out their healthy walking!). Our church had 31 visitors, which is slightly less than in the last few years. Our thanks to all who took it in turns to church-sit and welcome the visitors: Irmgard R, Ann B, Eileen R, Nicky A, Gill S, Sue H, Geoffrey S and Kelvin R. It really does make a big difference to be greeted by people and not just an empty church with an unattended sign-in sheet. Altogether we raised about £342 in sponsorship, to be divided between Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust and our church. A big thank you to our generous sponsors.

Riders & Striders Newsletter Article 2019