On Saturday, a dozen motorbiking vicars and church members from across the diocese will be out to enjoy the 75-mile ride from the most easterly church to the most westerly. Along the way they’ll take part in a Classic Car and Vehicle Rally being held by the church in the village of Barnoldswick near Skipton.
This is the third time the bikers have come together. Last October they rode to the three cathedrals of Ripon, Bradford and Wakefield and in May this year they toured the Dales taking in Otley, Masham, Hawes, Ribblehead, Settle and Skipton. Canon Stephen Kelly, the biking vicar organising the ride, said, “Our new diocese has some of the best scenery and biking roads in the country, and it gives us an excuse to get out and enjoy riding those roads together. We aim to cover different routes each time. On Saturday we end up in the beautiful Trough of Bowland.”
They’ll begin from the Ainsty farm shop at Green Hammerton before heading to St Mary’s, Nun Monkton, the most easterly church of the new diocese. They’ll then head west to Barnoldswick and visit the Classic Vehicle rally being put on by Holy Trinity Church as part of the village’s open-market day. Organiser Mark Williams said, “This is our second year of holding the Classic Rally. Along with all the vehicles and the birds of prey display, it will be great to see the gang turning heads as they arrive in style with their lights blazing.”
After lunch the leather-clad bikers will head to St Andrew’s Slaidburn, on the western edge of the diocese, before finishing with refreshments at the café at Dunsop Bridge.
TIMINGS: 10am at Ainsty farm shop, leave at 10.30am. Arrive at Barnoldswick 12/12.30pm, Slaidburn 2/ 2.30pm, Dunsop Bridge 2.30/3pm.