Happy New Year from the Norfolk Churches Trust Bike Ride, Walk & Drive team. The thought of cycling, walking or running from church to church might not be so appealing at this time of year with the chilly winds whipping around our ankles but looking forward a few months, we can conjure up memories of warm weather and sunny Norfolk skies and look forward to this year’s event on Saturday, 12th September. We would like to thank you for your continued support of this the Trust’s biggest fundraiser that embraces communities throughout the county. Its success is down to your participation, whether it be preparing and opening your building, greeting people on arrival, providing refreshments, walking, biking, driving, running, donating, or spreading the word about the day.
As we embark on the Trust’s 50th anniversary year, it is wonderful to be able to announce that a total of £115,527.99 was raised by 531 recorded participants in last year’s event and that 253 nominated churches will benefit from the money raised. Thank you to you all. It is a great amount of money and testament to the place that the Bike Ride holds in people’s diaries and hearts. It is a day for enjoying the very best of Norfolk in the way that you choose whilst raising essential funds to help us support communities throughout the county. These buildings are not only open for worship, but they also often host essential group activities throughout the year. At this point it is important to highlight that these are recorded participation figures. Many more take part without registering and we also know that more money is raised on the day by direct donations to the places of worship visited and again we cannot account for this.
So, which was the most visited church in 2025? It was Norwich, St Andrew’s which saw 54 people through their door. Our ever-popular photographic competition not only captures the beauty of the buildings but also the mood of the day. The winner of the best exterior of a church is Helen Barber for her photograph of Little Massingham, St Andrew (above) and Gill Ashby won the best interior which shows All Saints, Kettlestone, (below). The deserving winner of the ‘Spirit of the Day’ category was Mark Pfeiffer with his wonderful photograph of Bikes and Bales, (main image). Each will win a prize of £50 and see their photographs published in the EDP.
How do we spend this money? Each year the Trust holds three meetings to discuss the grant applications that we receive from all over the county. Grant requests address a broad range of needs, from urgent repairs and conservation work to paying for structural surveys and rainwater goods. Each one is carefully considered and even if we cannot give a grant, we can advise or signpost PCCs to other grant giving bodies. In our last financial year (ended 31st March 2025), the Trust awarded £182,713 in grants to 33 churches.
As always, we welcome your feedback on the Bike Ride, Walk & Drive and we will try our hardest to implement your suggestions so please do send them in by using the contact form on our website. Do not forget that the trails around churches that you will find on our website are not only for the Bike Ride, they can also be enjoyed at any time of the year, you can find them here. Our 50th anniversary year is going to be busy, so please keep an eye out for events that you might enjoy on our website and put Saturday, 12th September in your diary.
With all best wishes and thanks from the Bike Ride, Walk & Ride Team
January 2026
