NorfolkChurchesSponsoredRide60
How many Norfolk churches can you visit in one day?

More than 600 churches across Norfolk are throwing open their doors to visiting cyclists and drivers as part the Norfolk Churches Trust Sponsored Bike, Ride and Drive event on Saturday September 9, and you can take part.

The Norfolk Churches Trust Sponsored Bike, Ride and Drive encourages people to pack a picnic and plan a route from their door to visit as many of the 600 beautiful Norfolk churches, that are opening their doors, as they can.  

This annual event has fundraised around £2.8m over the past 32 years, with over £100,000 raised in 2016.  The money is divided between the church of the participant’s choice and The Norfolk Churches Trust, which gives grants to hundreds of churches for repairs, renovation and the conservation of their buildings.

Participants of all ages can sign up for free but can collect sponsorship for every church they visit if they wish. In 2016 the most churches visited by a participant was 64 by bike and 35 on foot. St Andrew's Church in Norwich saw the highest number of visitors - 75 in total

The Prince of Wales, who is the patron of the Norfolk Churches Trust, has kindly agreed to sign a certificate that will be given to the individual who raises the most money in this year’s Bike Ride.  The top ten people who visit the most churches on foot or bike on the day will be recorded on the Norfolk Churches Trust website Wall of Fame. 

There is also a photo competition, sponsored by Brown & Co, with the winner of best pictures of an architectural feature, of people taking part and of your favourite church each receiving £50.

The Norfolk Churches Trust was founded in 1976 with the aim of preserving Norfolk’s historic legacy of medieval churches.

For more information, to download a sponsorship form and to find a list of churches open for the Bike, Ride, Drive event please click here.

Photo credit: Photo taken by Charles Inglis and entered into the 2016 Norfolk Churches Trust Photographic Competitition