What is Ride and Stride?

A great day out discovering England's churches

Ride and Stride - the foremost annual fun fund-raising event to help preserve churches and chapels and keep them active in our communities.

Date for your diary - Ride and Stride 2026 will be held on Saturday 12th September

New for 2026

This year we will be encouraging Local Organisers to send sponsor money, if they wish, direct to the NHCT bank account. Our current account details are shown on the Home Page of this website. We may be changing our bank account and the new details will be updated and we will also send them to all Local Organisers by email. It is important that our Treasurer is given your contact details and church account details so he can return 50% of the initial sum to your church. We will be redesigning the Payment Slip to make this more relevant.

We are also investigating the different online Charity Fundraising sites and hope to have more information and maybe a recommendation later in the year.

History

Ride and Stride was ‘born’ in Suffolk in 1982 as a sponsored cycle ride or walk and is held annually, in virtually every county in England. It is the main fund-raising event for the county churches trusts. It is now a sponsored event for cyclists, joggers, walkers and horse riders. Any mode of transport can be used as long as sponsors are happy; a couple of people have used vintage cars!

Ride and Stride is a countrywide event always held on the second Saturday in September.

Where does the money go?

In Northamptonshire, 50% of the money raised and any Gift Aid is retained by the Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust and a cheque for 50% of the money raised is sent to the church chosen by each of the participants. The money raised, along with other funds, is used to give grants for preserving, restoring and improving churches, chapels and meeting houses in Northamptonshire whether they are historic or not.

Downloads

Do download the poster if you would like advance publicity....

What happens?

Some participants challenge themselves to visit as many churches as they can by their chosen mode of transport. Others prefer a more leisurely approach, visiting fewer churches and taking more time at each. There is no age limit - it is a great family activity - and you plan your own route. Churches are usually open from 10.00am to 6.00pm although there are some that close earlier.