A CYCLING event to celebrate and preserve some of the county's churches is taking place next month.

Hundreds of people across the county are gearing up to take part in the biggest national fundraiser for churches, Ride+Stride on Saturday September 8.

Ride+Stride is an opportunity for individuals, friends and families to get on their bike, horse or scooter, walk or drive between churches, raising money through sponsorship for the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust (GHCT) and the participant's chosen church or charity.

Churches taking part this year include Cirencester's Parish Church, Holy Trinity in Watermoor, Stratton's St Peter's and Chedworth's St Andrews.

Glenn Duff, regional organiser, who is creating a map of the churches participating, said: “We’re asking churches to let us know when they will be open, to help people plan a great day out exploring some of the area’s most interesting buildings. Supporters can visit one church or 100 and there are prizes for the highest fundraisers.”

Last year a record 541 people took part in Ride+Stride in the Cotswolds, raising almost £50,000.

The Trust was able to award £150,000 in grants to 42 churches to help pay for urgent repairs, maintenance and improvements.

Ride+Stride participant Fen Marshall said: “I really enjoyed the ride in 2016 so I had another go in 2017 with some friends, cycling 45 miles between 17 churches and chapels.

"If we’d stopped and chatted with everyone we met we’d never have finished in the day! Ride+Stride is a great way to enjoy the local countryside and visit churches you might never get around to seeing.”

In June 2018 grants of up to £10,000 were made to many churches across the Cotswolds including £2,000 to Stroud's Congregational church for repairs to windows, £250 to All Saints in Preston (Cirencester) to install a sound system and £3,000 to Lower Swell's St Mary the Virgin for the creation of a WC and servery.

£3,000 was awarded to Blockley's SS Peter and Paul for repairs to retaining wall in the churchyard, and £1,500 to St Nicholas church in Standish for the conservation of the Churchill memorial.

£2,500 was also awarded to St Mary's in Berkeley and £1,000 to Chipping Sodbury's Baptist Church.

To find out how to take part at ghct.org.uk.

Visit ghct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/eventmap for details of churches in your area taking part.