CYCLISTS and walkers from all over the Midhurst and Petworth area are getting fit for their annual ‘ride and stride’ in aid of the Sussex Historic Churches Trust.
Among them is the team from the South Harting Congregational Church which is led by Joyce Paddick, still cycling at the age of 78 and 84 year old Joyce Merritt who has now given up cycling after 30 years but will still walk round the churches in Chichester for the event on September 8. Also on the team is five year old Freddy Kyle.
Supporting the riders will be the Rev Ken Jacques, congregational church minister who said: “Let it not be said that we are either too old or too young to support the important heritage of our beautiful churches.”
The Harting team have for many years been very active in support of the Trust and have raised more than £5,000 in the past ten years alone.
At Fernhurst, a walk in aid of the Trust will see a group organised by Rosemary Foster striding out from St Margaret’s Church at 10.30am on Saturday (September 1).
The striders will however start their walk by car.
Driving to Woolbeding, they then walk along the Rother Valley by the footpaths to Chithurst.
Having visited Stedham and stopping to eat their packed lunches at Iping they will have visited four ancient, beautiful and very different churches.
Last year Fernhurst raised £400 to help repair and maintain local historic churches.
For more information on this walk and the churches, contact Rosemary Foster on 01428 653266.
The Sussex Historic Churches Trust was founded in 1956 to preserve churches and chapels, more than 100 years old and of architectural interest.
One of the main sources of income is the annual Ride and Stride.
Anyone interested in taking part should contact their church organiser, visit www.rideandstride.info or call 01243 788265.
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