What is Ride + Stride?
Ride+Stride is an annual event where participants are sponsored to travel between churches. You can walk, cycle, ride on horseback or use public transport. The money you raise is shared between the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust (GHCT) and a church of your choice.
You don’t need to be a churchgoer to take part. Whether you’re a history lover, enjoy discovering new places, or simply want to support the churches at the heart of your community, everyone is welcome! For some, it’s a relaxed day out visiting a few churches; for others, it’s a challenge to visit as many as possible. Many churches will be open on the day, so it’s a fantastic opportunity to explore the beautiful, historic and contemporary buildings in our local area.When it comes to fundraising, you can approach it in
the way that suits you best. Many people choose to sponsor participants for a set amount, no matter how many churches they visit, but you can also be sponsored per church on your route. All funds raised for GHCT help to preserve and maintain our local churches for future generations. So, you’ll be making a real difference while having a great time!
How do I get involved?
As part of your local church…
Most Ride+Stride participants get involved through their local church. To take part this way, contact your church’s local organiser, they may have a JustGiving page set up for fundraising.
If your church doesn’t currently have a local organiser, you can either set up your own fundraising page or consider becoming the organiser yourself. If you'd like to take on that role, let us know so we can add you to our Local Organisers mailing list for regular updates and resources.
You’ll find everything you need on our Local Organisers page. Also, you can check our list of churches that will be open on the day or browse our Routes page for inspiration from previous years.
As an individual or as part of a group…
Not linked to a church but want to take part? Whether you're going solo, with friends, or alongside colleagues, it’s easy to get involved.
Start by setting up your JustGiving fundraising page using our step-by-step guide, and download your sponsorship form to collect any offline donations. Please visit our Local organiser information page to do this. Once the event is over, remember to send your completed form to the contact listed on it.
Then start planning your route. You can choose where to go and how many churches to visit. If you're not sure where to begin, we often hear from groups who are happy for others to join them. Just get in touch and we’ll help connect you.
To help you get started, check our list of churches that will be open on the day, or browse the Routes page for inspiration from previous years.
For more information on getting involved, check out our participants' guide on our local organisers information page.
By hosting an event…
Not keen on walking or cycling? You can still get involved by organising an event to support Ride+Stride. Some churches and participants choose to raise money by hosting activities like heritage open days, talks, bake sales, or coffee mornings.
To get started, download our special event sponsorship form and begin planning. If your church will be open and holding an event on the day, let us know so we can include you on our list of open churches and help spread the word on social media.
Important Documents
All of the documents you will need can be found on our local organisers information page.
Your Ride+Stride Adventures
We love seeing your photos! If you're happy for us to use them in our publicity, please email them to ride-and-stride@ghct.org.uk, along with details of who's in the photo and where it was taken.
Here are just a few highlights from previous years!
Important Information
Any activity undertaken by participants in Ride and Stride is at their own risk.
It is a condition of participation that, save to the extent required by law, GHCT accepts no liability in respect of death or injury sustained by any participant in the sponsored Ride and Stride.
In the unlikely event of any accidents occurring during the event, please notify the County Organiser as soon as possible.
Take Part
Find out how you can take part in Ride+Stride
Local Organiser Information
All you need to know if you are a local organiser
Ride+Stride National Site
The national site for Ride+Stride events
National Churches Trust
Find out about the national organisers of Ride+Stride