Ride + Stride is the single largest source of income for many Historic Churches Trusts enabling them to make grants to places of Christian worship. 

Taking place on the second Saturday of September (13 September in 2025) the funds raised can be split between the nominated Trust and the participants chosen church or chapel.

This year Holy Trinity, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, is taking part in the scheme.

Richard Howell is taking on the challenge of cycling from Holy Trinity to Lichfield Cathedral and back, a round trip of approximately 60 miles. 

Parishioners at the church are working hard to ensure that before the bicentenary celebrations in 2034 the church is ready to serve the community for another 200 years. 

The church was fortunate to secure a grant from SHCT towards work on the roof and to the large stained-glass windows. Parishioners now need to replace the outdated heating system before the winter.

Please donate to the Holy Trinity cycle challenge if you can

The Staffordshire Historic Churches Trust was founded in 1953 with the aim of helping churches with the cost of repairs. Ride and Stride is the annual sponsored event in aid of county Historic Churches Trusts all over England. 
 
Cyclists, walkers, drivers, public transport users are sponsored by family and friends to visit as many churches as they can between 10am and 6pm. It really is a great day out, travelling around our lovely county and meeting friends old and new!  

In 2024, 93 churches welcomed participants and sponsored cyclists/walkers/drivers raised just over £6,000 - Gift Aid will increase this amount. The money is used to make grants to churches for repairs and essential maintenance.  

Half the money raised by each participant is returned to their own church and a trophy is awarded each year to a participant: this year it will be presented to whoever visits the most participating churches. 

Churches in the Archdiocese to have benefited from Staffordshire Historic Churches Trust grants in recent years include: Our Blessed Lady and St John the Baptist, Ashley; St Giles, Cheadle; Holy Trinity, Newcastle-under-Lyme and St John the Baptist, Alton.

Active Churches Trust also operate in:

Oxfordshire
Warwickshire and Coventry
Worcestershire and Dudley

If you'd like your parish to be involved please visit the website to find out more.