Seven Melton churches taking part in annual Ride+Stride fundraiser
Seven churches in the Melton Mowbray Team Parish family are taking part in this year’s annual Ride+Stride event which raises money to help repair and maintain these historic buildings.
Participants this year will also benefit from using the footpaths and cycle ways on stretches of the new Pork Pie Way if they are venturing further afield around the town and to neighbouring villages.
It all takes place on Saturday September 12 under the organisation of the LeicesterShire Historic Churches Trust, with half of all sponsorship raised going directly to a nominated church or chapel and the remainder supporting the Trust’s grant programme. These grants help churches, chapels and meeting houses across the county carry out essential repairs, conservation work and improvements.
Several churches are also taking part in the National Trust’s Heritage Open Day (HOD), giving visitors an ideal opportunity to explore the historic buildings.
The following Melton churches are involved in Ride+Stride this year with refreshments served at many of them:
**Melton Mowbray Methodist Church, on Sandy Lane, open 10am to 6pm.
**Welby Lane Mission Church, Welby Lane, 10am to 6pm.
**St John’s, Thorpe End, 10am to 6pm. HOD open 12-4pm, tours at 1pm and 3pm.
**St Mary’s, Burton Street, 10am to 4pm. HOD.
**St Mary the Virgin, Thorpe Arnold, 10am to 4pm. HOD with displays, information and a children’s quiz sheet.
**St Bartholomew’s, Welby, 10am to 1pm. HOD with village history boards and local industrial history. Tea, coffee and homemade cake will be served.
**St James’, Burton Lazars, 10am to 4pm. HOD with poster display and a Churches and Chapels on the Air (CHOTA), an annual amateur radio station event.
Amateur radio enthusiasts will set up a temporary station to make contact with churches and chapels around the world. Email [email protected] for details.
Ride+Stride is open to cyclists, runners and walkers. Those using Pork Pie Way, the new distributor road, are advised that the footpath remains incomplete between the bypass and Thorpe Arnold village.
Walkers can continue with care along the grass verge or use the Lag Lane bridleway from Saxby Road into the village.
Anyone interested in being sponsored to support one of the local churches can contact Tricia Lynott at [email protected] for further information.
Go to www.lhct.org.uk/ride-and-stride-leicestershire for information on all churches taking part this year in the Melton area.