Yesterday was the annual Ride and Stride. This is where people do a sponsored cycle, walk or ride round the many Oxfordshire Churches listed by the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust for the event.  The sponsorship money is split between the Trust and the person’s church.

The Covid-19 restrictions meant the event looked a little different this year. Not as many churches had people at the door welcoming. In Abingdon, three churches still had welcomers (St Helen’s, Abingdon Baptist, and St Michael’s).

The toher churches left out a form to be signed to show who had visited. In Abingdon,  this included: Trinity, Peachcroft Christian Centre, All Saints, and St Nicolas

Here are two Ride and Striders signing in at St Nicholas on the Market Place.

I took part and photographed my bike outside the churches I visited as not all of them remembered they were supposed to be taking part and left no form to sign. Some were in the grounds of private houses like at Milton House and the Chapel of St Thomas More in Fox Lane on Boars Hill. So with those I took a picture at the front gate of the house.

I cycled around all the Abingdon churches and churches in nearby villages (Shippon, Sunningwell, Bayworth, Boars Hill, Kennington, Radley, Culham, Sutton, Milton, Steventon, Drayton)

Both the Drayton Churches were open. They both allowed you to look round.

St Peter’s Church looked very smart from outside

and from inside.

Drayton Baptist Church also had a sign in sheet.

I cycle by this chapel going to work and always wondered what it was like inside. Now I know.