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This year’s Ride + Stride will coincide with the National Heritage Open Weekend to display the hidden treasures within churches across the Diocese, helping to ‘restore, repair and maintain some of Yorkshire’s most vulnerable places of worship’.
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The Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust are hosting this annual event across Kirklees and Lower Calderdale on Saturday 12th September, encouraging people to be sponsored to walk, cycle or drive between some of the region’s most beautiful churches.
Vanessa White from the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust says, “It is a fantastic opportunity to raise funds for your local church, as well as contribute to the work of the YHCT.
“It is also a great chance to explore some of our regions’ most beautiful churches, discovering hidden treasures and uncovering some of the stories behind the buildings.”
Some of the churches that will be opening especially for Ride + Stride will be hosting exhibitions and tours on the day, allowing participants to discover the secrets within these beautiful buildings.
The Trust has created three suggested driving routes (available on their website – see the bottom of the article), but is also encouraging people make their own itineraries to visit a wide selection of these fascinating churches.
The image on the left shows the open churches and suggested route across the Kirklees area.
Bear Grylls, adventurer, writer and Chief Scout, mentions, “Many historic churches, chapels and meeting houses are battling to survive.
“Roofs leak, ancient timbers rot and medieval stonework crumbles.”
He says, “Now you can help by joining the Ride + Stride adventure.
“A sponsored drive, bike ride or walk, discovering beautiful churches, which also raises money for their repair and preservation.”
The image on the right shows the open churches and suggested route across the Lower Calderdale area.
The funds raised through the Ride + Stride event will be split between the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust and the church chosen by the participant to help with the restoration, repairs and maintenance of the churches involved.
Full details about the event, including sponsorship forms, suggested routes and a list of known open churches can be found on the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust website here: http://www.yhct.org.uk/get-involved/ride-stride/
Alternatively, contact Vanessa White from the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust on 07786 656883.
For the full list of places opening for the National Heritage Open Day here: http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk