Visitors taking part in this year’s Ride+Stride event will have the rare opportunity to explore the chapel at Chavenage House, Tetbury, the historic Gloucestershire estate famously featured in the BBC’s Poldark.
The chapel, which is normally only accessible on limited occasions, will be open to the public from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 12 September, offering participants a unique chance to visit one of the county’s most distinctive heritage sites.
Chavenage House is among a number of churches and historic buildings welcoming walkers, cyclists and riders as part of Ride+Stride, the annual fundraising event organised by the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust (GHCT). The event supports the repair, maintenance and improvement of church buildings across Gloucestershire and North Bristol.
Elsewhere, the Windrush Benefice, which includes Sherborne, Great Barrington, Windrush, Little Barrington and Aldsworth, has organised a packed programme of activities alongside suggested walking and cycling routes. Participants who visit all five churches will cover just under 14 miles.
The day begins at Great Barrington at 10am with an introduction to bell ringing, before moving to Little Barrington at 11am where visitors can learn how to raise the church flag and pick up treats for their dogs.
At noon, Windrush Church will host organ demonstrations, handbell ringing and a scarecrow-building activity. Participants can also take part in a nature treasure hunt along the route between Windrush and Sherborne.
Sherborne Church will host a light lunch and a talk at 1.30pm on Lord Sherborne’s daughter and her marriage to a Russian prince, while the day concludes at Aldsworth with cream teas and choral music from 3.30pm.
Some people across the Diocese will take on ambitious challenges, aiming to visit as many churches as possible in a single day, while others will enjoy a more leisurely route, taking in the events and refreshments on offer. In previous years, churches have welcomed visitors with bake sales, tower tours, car boot sales, organ recitals, concerts and concerts.
Last year’s event raised more than £37,000, which has since been distributed to local churches to support a wide variety of projects, including essential roof repairs and improvements to make buildings more accessible.
Participants can choose which church will receive 50% of the money they raise, making Ride+Stride an important fundraising opportunity for churches across Gloucestershire.
For more information or to sign up, visit the GHCT Ride + Stride website→
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