Sunday Update

We rode as far as Weston-super-Mare, by coach. Our intentions for Saturday were stymied by a church outing to the seaside with no plan to explore places of worship. So we had set out on our bikes to visit churches the day before, without the prospect of refreshments and pieces of paper to sign, or indeed of finding churches open.

Steaming up the hill into Berkeley I encountered Jon coasting in the opposite direction. We both came to an ungainly stop and exchanged notes. Jon complained that he'd cycled through so many villages, alas with no churches. I suggested he try Rockhampton where he'd find St Oswald tucked away around a few bends. So he did. His pictures are in the gallery: three churches and a sketch he made yesterday in WsM.

Having broken the Saturday mould, I expect we might find our way to some more churches in the next couple of weeks.

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Members of All Saints' have joined in the 'Ride & Stride' event for many years, with refreshments for visitors and providing cyclists for folk to sponsor, to benefit our much loved 14th century church. The number of riders drawn from our ageing congregation has dwindled over the years, (now down to one or two), but the cost of preserving our historic building has not.

We give our time, labour and money for all the prudent, stitch-in-time maintenance and repairs that we can afford. We could do more to enhance the building if we had the money for specialist labour and materials, for example to provide a water supply and basic catering facilities. Then there's our clock which is out of action for want of dial repairs (£12k quoted), and our fifth bell which needs new bearings.

This year Jeremy and Jon will cycle to some nearby churches, bearing our sponsor forms to earn some cash. But you can help too by donating here via Just Giving. Donations can be Gift Aided, with half coming to All Saints' and half going to the GHCT, (from whom we may seek help one day). Any money that we receive will be used sparingly and wisely.