Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.  Emily (9) and John (not telling) Foster are going on a bike ride with a difference on Saturday 11 September 2010.  We are taking part in ‘Ride + Stride’, an annual sponsored cycle, run or walk to raise money for The Royal County of Berkshire Churches trust.

The trust raises funds for, and makes grants or loans towards, the repair of churches in the county of Berkshire. It serves all denominations which belong to "Churches Together in England" and is not confined to "historic" churches. It is the biggest single ecumenical event in England.

‘Ride + Stride’ is held in conjunction with sponsored bicycle rides and walks organised by County Trusts across the country.  We will be donating half the money we raise from sponsorship to St Paul's Church, Wokingham.

St Paul's was built by John Walter, then proprietor of ‘The Times’, from 1862 and consecrated by the Bishop of Oxford, on 23rd July 1864.  Almost all the fabric of the church dates from the middle of Queen Victoria's reign, and is a product of that one period. It is probably most readily labelled as 'decorated Victorian Gothic'. The architect was Henry Woodyer of Grafham, near Guildford who Sir John Betjeman wrote about with approval, quoting St Paul's, Wokingham as a good example of his work.

So, now you know a little bit more about the Church that you may have driven past countless times, where are we going?  Well we only have four hours (including biscuit stops) so we are planning to start at S Thomas Moore in Twyford and ride to St James Ruscombe, then on to St Nicholas Hurst, St Mary Virgin Winnersh, Sindlesham Baptist Church, St Catherine Bearwood, St Bartholomew Arborfield and back to our own Church at St Paul's, Wokingham.  All in all, a distance of about twelve miles, which is the furthest Emily has ever gone.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

We aim to raise £250, or to put it another way, about as much as it takes to maintain the church for one day. So please help us by donating.