Callum Ringer and partner Kathryn are once more taking to the roads of Norfolk for the 2026 Bike Ride, Walk & Drive. Callum has told us of his link to the event which goes back more than 30 years, you can read his story below.
‘The Norfolk Churches Trust cycle ride is something I have grown up with.
It actually started with my dad back in the early 1990s. John and Judy Wilson, who for many years have been at the heart of supporting Beckham Church, they caught wind that Dad was a keen cyclist and suggested he might like to take part. They offered to sponsor him 50p for every church he visited.
Well, he cycled to more than 70 churches that year, and I think John and Judy got rather more of a shock than they had bargained for when all those 50ps were added up!
Dad continued taking part, and when I was old enough I began joining him, raising money over the years for either Beckham Church or All Saints’ Church in Bodham. As I got older, weekend work and then university intervened and there was probably a gap of a decade or more when I did not take part.
But the tradition has now been firmly revived. My partner Kathryn and I (still joined by my dad!) have taken part for around seven years on the bounce , continuing to alternate between Bodham and Beckham churches – it is Beckham’s turn this year – and we must by now have raised a few thousand pounds between the churches and the Norfolk Churches Trust. (We checked £4,354.06, a fantastic sum, thank you).
We also like to set ourselves a bit of a challenge. We generally aim for around 50 churches each year, which has usually put us among the more prolific cyclists taking part.
This year, though, I have set myself a slightly different challenge. In May I was elected to Norfolk County Council representing the vast Erpingham division. It contains well over 30 churches, chapels and church ruins, and it seemed too good an opportunity to miss: why not try to visit every one of them in a single day, with a few extras added along the way?
It is not the easiest route to plot, and will come to more than 60 miles around some of North Norfolk’s most scenic lanes and historic churches. We are very lucky to have them.
Over the years the Churches Bike Ride has become a proper tradition for us, and there are certain little landmarks we now look out for every year: the “Mind How Yew Go” at Gresham Chapel, or arriving at St Peter’s, North Barningham – usually church number two of the day – and being told whether we are a minute earlier or later than the year before – I’m glad people are keeping check!
More than anything, though, it is genuinely lovely meeting all the people giving up their Saturday to welcome riders into the churches, and nodding to passing cyclists sporting their yellow stickers, knowing that we are all out on the same mission.
And this year it will not just be the cycle ride supporting the cause. The good people at The Wheatsheaf in West Beckham are very kindly donating the proceeds of their September pub quiz to add to my fundraising for the Norfolk Churches Trust and Beckham Church.
The quiz is on 25 September at 8pm. People can come for the quiz or book a table come early and have a lovely home cooked meal! ‘
The Trust wishes Callum and Kathryn well on their challenge for this year.
You can support Callum and Kathryn on their Bike Ride for Beckham Church and the Norfolk Churches Trust via their Just Giving page.
