Along with my cycle partner May MacPherson i cycled north through Elsfield, Beckley, Horton-cum-Studley and Boarstall until May’s gears packed in halfway up Brill hill! We retreated to the pub (after duly signing our cards) and awaited rescue over hot food and coffees – we were drenched to the bone.
After May and her broken bike had been whisked away in the back of a car I headed down to Oakley (where a wedding was in full flight – two VW camper vans waited to take the couple off on their honeymoon (hopefully not in separate vans) and then the delightful and well tucked-away church in Worminghall. It was nice to be able to take to a friendly welcomer here as most churches had been unmanned up until this point. I learnt that some Striders had arrived in tractors (probably a more appropriate form of given the torrential rain by this point!)
Next it was another hidden gem at Ickford where lichenologists were taking samples from the tombstones (I didn’t feel so weird after this startling revelation). Next Shabbingdon (another lovely new church I’d never seen before) before retreating back through Ickford and across the rather dangerous A418 to visit the beautiful gem that is St Helen’s, Tiddington where a wedding was just about to begin (I actually followed the bride up the single-track road to the church!) After a few pics in the pouring rain I hastily got my card signed (there was no stopping me by this point – rather like the heavy rain) and then retreated to Waterstock and Waterperry (I admit I sped down the private drive of Waterperry House) and onto Holton and Wheatley. This was where I first met the wonderful Beryl at Our Lady of Lourdes and her sumptuous fruit cake. The church is well worth visiting as it was made from a converted barn.
Next a brief visit to the United Reformed Church where I was offered even more cake while chatting to a well-equipped walking party before visiting Theresa May’s church, St Mary the Virgin. Forest Hill is always a delight perched up a steep hill. Here I met a dog strider who had thoughtfully brought along his owner! It had almost stopped raining when I reached Stanton St John where I learnt that they had had a wedding earlier in the day!
It was now literally downhill-ish as I made the outskirts of Headington and popped my head into St Mary’s where I was greeted by a lovely pair of welcomers before dipping under the A40 to emerge in old Headington and the lofty church of St Andrew where the 5 o’clock bell chimed – no time for tea I must speed on! By way of back streets I made Headington Quarry and Holy Trinity. The sun had actually broken through by this point and I must say it was wonderfully dazzling and i was thankful to be nearing the end of my journey.
At Corpus Christi I caught up with Beryl and her cake again but had no time to enjoy as I dashed off in quick succession to All Saints and Lime Walk Methodist (which unfortunately was closed), I duly noted them down and left Headington by way of the hill that lead me effortlessly down to St Clements which appeared to be undergoing some serious renovation. I signed the sheet pinned to the door and made my way to our newest recruit – St Nicholas the Wonderworker. The sheet had just been carried away but I managed to add my name and pop my head around the door to see the Russian Orthodox priest chanting while long tapered candles burned reflecting off images of the many icons covering the walls. A little bit of Russia in Marston! I was told that the church is too small for the current congregation but that they plan to stay there as it is such a delightful church – and I couldn’t argue with that.
I suddenly remembered that I would pass St Michael’s on my way back to St Anthony’s. Here I met the warden Peter who explained that St Michael’s had originally occupied the building now used by the Russian Orthodox. Then up Jack Straw’s Lane to the place I had started my ride exactly 8 hours earlier. It was now 6pm and Mary was very, very pleased indeed to be relieved of her Welcomer duties – she had stoically spent 8 hours welcoming 19 souls who had braved the elements to celebrate the wonderful diversity of churches and people who made up Ride and Stride 2016, including, at 10:50 one Jeanette Thomas! Let’s hope and pray for a drier day next year!