Each year the church which has increased the amount of money raised during the Bike Ride the most, is awarded £1,000 by the Norfolk Churches Trust.
The tiny parish of St Andrew’s, Thurning were the winners for 2025 receiving £1,000 for the Most Improved Fundraising Church. A presentation was held in the sun-filled churchyard to thank them for their hard work on Wednesday 26th August. Sarah and Simon Garnier, who organised the gathering, arrived appropriately on bicycles. They are long standing supporters of the Trust and of the Bike Ride and were thrilled that the event coincided with the end of the restoration of the porch of the church.
Amelia Courtauld, outgoing Chair of the Bike Ride Committee gave a speech recognising the efforts of those who took part in the event and the five who rode on behalf of the church were in attendance. As well as the aforementioned Sarah and Simon Garnier these were Jo and Giles Winter, and Hilary Lucier.
Hilary took part in the Bike Ride for the first time in 2025, you can read her reasons for taking part and why she chose Thurning to benefit here.
We were delighted to meet so many representatives of the Thurning church community, including the new incumbent for the Reepham and Wensum Valley, the Rev’d Nigel Kinsella, and Rev’d Tim Weston who has been taking services during the vacancy and will continue to share the rota.
We were extremely fortunate that it was a warm evening and were able to enjoy refreshments in the churchyard following the presentation.
It was a double celebration and this fascinating church, its box pews and triple staged pulpit polished, was looking loved and splendid inside too. It really is well worth a visit, perhaps as part of your own Bike Ride, Walk & Drive on 12th September, and maybe you could help your local church win the prize for 2026.
All the details of how to take part in the Bike Ride, Walk & Drive can be found here.
Want to hear more about the Bike Ride, Walk & Drive? Amelia Courtauld will be on the Louise Hulland show on BBC Radio Norfolk on Friday 4th September at 2.35pm to talk about it.
