Bishop Colin and I would be delighted if others wish to join us for our planned cycle route for this year’s Ride and Stride on Saturday 10 September. Do join us for all or part of the day. It should be good fun.
Our circular route will take us round churches and chapels from Standlake, through Bampton, Carterton and Witney and back to Standlake. There are some very interesting churches on our route and wonderful countryside too. It should be a pleasant ride of about 27 miles with a short break in each church and a longer break for lunch in Alvescot.
We start from Standlake St Giles at 10am and then visit
Aston St James leaving at 10.50; Bampton St Mary’s and the Methodists leaving at 11.30; Clanfield St Stephens leaving at 12.00; Black Bourton St Mary’s leaving at 1230; and Alvescot St Peter’s leaving at 1255. All times of course are approximate!
We will then stop for a quick pub lunch at the Plough in Alvescot (1300-1345) before heading on to Carterton where we hope to call at St Joseph’s, St John the Evangelist, and the Methodist Chapel before riding on at 14.40 to Brize Norton St Birinus.
We leave there at 15.00 and call at Curbridge St John the Baptist before reaching Witney at about 15.35. There we will call at Our Lady and St Hugh, the Welch Way Congregational Chapel, the Methodist Chapel in the High Street, Holy Trinity, the Newland Methodist Chapel, Cogges St Mary and finally St Mary the Virgin before leaving Witney at 1615 for Ducklington St Bartholomew and finally returning to Standlake at 1700.
The aim of the Ride and Stride is to get sponsorship for the number of churches or chapels visited in the course of the day. There is full information at ohct.org.uk/ride-stride/ . It can be as demanding or relaxed as you choose. Biking with the Bishop is not too energetic. We will spend a few minutes in each of the churches we visit because Bishop Colin wants to meet as many people as possible. Many of the churches and chapels have received grants for repairs from the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust, and I will want to see what has been done or is planned. And the churches offer refreshments.
It’s a good day out, and many of the churches we are visiting are really wonderful. Do join us!
PS It is not essential but if you are joining us it would be a kindness if you could tell Alison Shaw, our local organiser on 01865300615 or email [email protected].