• What is Rutland Ride & Stride?
• Info for Participants
• Info for Sponsors
• Info for Church Recorders
• Info for Church Organisers
• Planning Your Route
• Sponsorship & Gift Aid
• Tips for Fundraising
• Forms & Documents

Welcome to Rutland Ride & Stride

IMPORTANT NOTICE: It looks to be a hot one, so please bring plenty of water and pace yourselves accordingly to ability. We encourage cyclists to not cycle alone.

To be held on Saturday 9th September 2023

Ride and Stride is a challenge and a fun fund raising event to help preserve local and historic church buildings. Rutland has 64 churches, many of which are much loved features of our villages and towns. Those who worship in them are a fraction of those who visit them or gaze happily at them as they pass by. Our church buildings need to be preserved and your help is very much appreciated.

Participants challenge themselves to visit as many churches as they can by their chosen mode of transport and at the same time raise money to support the work of the Rutland Historic Churches Preservation Trust. Whilst many of our participants choose to walk or cycle we welcome anyone who is willing to take on a personal challenge. Horse riders are welcome and we'd love to see a unicyle or three-legged team! Since 2013 we also welcome not so mobile participants who may be driven to churches but should reach the church door under their own steam.

Half of what participants raise in sponsorship may be donated to their nominated church (if any) and every penny of the rest will be used by RHCPT to help preserve our lovely church buildings.

For more details see our news page.

For details of the next Rutland Ride & Stride event and how to register please see Information for participants.

A Personal Challenge

In 2021, a well- known Greetham participant completed her personal challenge which was, over a period of years, to cycle to all 64 churches in Rutland. Since 2017, a team from Hambleton divides up so that every church in the county is visited by at least one member. In 2019, the High Sheriff and her husband cycled round the boundary of the county. Other participants have ridden on unicycles, horses and mobility scooters. It is amazing what people think of doing.

Rutland Ride & Stride 2021

The event enjoyed perfect cycling weather; and raised £22,000 for the maintenance and preservation of our lovely Rutland churches. An awards party to celebrate the success of the 2021 Ride and Stride was held later at Barnsdale Lodge. Mr Lawson (RHCPT Chairman) thanked the 400 participants, who cycled or walked, or manned Rutland’s churches. In particular, he praised the 300 volunteers who welcomed active participants to their churches and enabled all 64 churches to be open on the day.

For more details see our news page.

Rutland Ride & Stride 2019

The weather was much kinder in 2019 than in 2017 and our supporters, equally kind too, raised over £20,000 for Rutland Churches. Just under 100 walkers and cyclists took part as well as approximately 250 people who welcomed them to Rutland’s 64 churches. Our 2019 High Sheriff Margaret Miles revived an ancient custom and rode round the county in support of the event. In the past this would have been on horseback but Margaret and her husband Robert rode their bicycles. We are extremely grateful to them and to Rob Persani who accompanied them some of the way broadcasting live on Rutland Radio to a whole new audience (for RHCPT) along the way.

For more details see our news page.

Achievements and a Fun Day Out

There are awards for achievement, but the main objective is to have a very enjoyable and safe day out on the byroads of rural Rutland, and to raise a lot of money for a very worthy cause.

There is a cup for the most Rutland churches visited on the day. Certificates will be given to all cyclists who visit 35 or more churches; and all walkers who visit 15 or more churches.

How Do I Get Started?

For further details about the event please see our Information for Participants page.

Privacy

Find out how we use your information: Privacy Policy.

© Rutland Historic Churches Preservation Trust 2017. All rights reserved. Photographs have been kindly provided by Mr Richard Adams
Registered Charity Number: 211068. Give As You Earn Registration Number: 000101080