SHCT Ride and Stride (2nd Saturday of September)

Cycling for the 21st SHCT bike ride, 2002. BFP news article

Saturday the 9th September 2023 will be the annual fund raising sponsored ride and stride for churches of the Bansfield Benefice and the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust.

Half of the proceeds go to the church of your choice and the other half to the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust to help with their charitable work.

The event starts at 9.00am and finishes at 5.00pm. Start and finish whenever you like between these times. Visit by bike or on foot (no horses please) as few or as many churches as you wish. It's a great day out for all the family and there are refreshments (tea, biscuits and soft drinks) at all the churches you visit. It's a great opportunity to visit other churches in the area and to see the rich history of our religious buildings. It's also fun for the whole family and even helps to keep you fit. Why not visit all Seven churches of the Benefice?

Pick up a sponsorship leaflet from any Bansfield Benefice church or via the Contact link at the foot of the page. The event day starts at 9.00am and finishes at 5.00pm. Further information can be found on the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust website.

A map of participating churches in Suffolk.

Lidgate - cycling en masse - 30th SHCT ride

The Lidgate cycling phenomenon fund raising for the SHCT in 2011.

The inhabitants of the village of Lidgate are a shining example to us all with their amazing organisation of this event. In 2011 Lidgate mustered over 50 cyclists, tee shirt sponsorship for the event and a support team for the cyclists. (In the previous years they have had between 35-45 cyclists.) With their cyclists split into three categories of cycling prowess they tackle the job in hand of visiting all the churches of the Bansfield Benefice with gusto, stopping only for a well deserved ploughman's lunch half way round, before returning to St Mary's Lidgate for a party and celebration of their achievements. With their sponsors of the event they also generate a substantial amount for the SHCT and St Mary's. In 2010 they raised £1,400. So well done to them and long may it continue!

Mike and Paul's tour 2009 - 28th SHCT ride

In 2009 (12th September) Mike and Paul visited 34 churches and one pub including all the churches in Bury St Edmunds and various benefice churches within the Clare Deanery. They covered 48 miles.

Mike and Paul's tour 2007 - 26th SHCT ride

In 2007 (8th September) Mike and Paul visited 33 churches and one pub including all seven benefice churches as well as those in the neighbouring Stour Valley Benefice and Haverhill - all within the Clare Deanery and one over the border into Essex. They covered 63 miles.

Benefice Churches To Visit

Benefice Church of the day - Monday

Saint Margaret's Cowlinge: As in the case of most English villages, the oldest building is the mediaeval Church of St. Margaret of Antioch, which is still in regular use for Christian worship - the purpose for which it was first built over 650 years ago. As such it is the product of a great deal of love and care which people of many periods and traditions have lavished upon it. St Margaret's is listed in Simon Jenkins' book "England's thousand best churches". To find out more click on the image.

Benefice Church of the day - Tuesday

Saint Nicholas' Denston: A church existed on this site in the twelfth century but the present building. apart from the tower, was rebuilt almost from the ground in the latter part of the fifteenth century; and a "college" - that is an association - of chantry priests, one master and two co-brethren was incorporated with the Parish church in fulfilment of the terms of the will of John Denston. St Nicholas is listed in Simon Jenkins' book "England's thousand best churches". To find out more click on the image.

Benefice Church of the day - Wednesday

Saint Mary's Lidgate: This ancient building has been a centre for Christian worship and witness for at least 750 years and is still in regular use for the purpose for which it was built. Here we see craftsmanship of many periods - from the 1200s down to our own century, as generations of Lidgate folk of different historical periods and Christian traditions have altered, enlarged and beautified it. To find out more click on the image.

Benefice Church of the day - Thursday

Saint Peter's Ousden: Welcome to this ancient church, which was built by the Normans over 800 years ago. Christian worship has been offered here ever since, by generations of Ousden folk of varying traditions, who have at different times altered, enlarged and beautified the building, as the need arose. To find out more click on the image.

Benefice Church of the day - Friday

All Saints' Church Stansfield: The present Church consists of the Chancel, Nave, South porch, - a doorway on the North side has been partly blocked with bricks- and the splendid Western tower which is over seventy feet high. The tower is C14, it was restored in 1896 and has recently been well restored again by the efforts of the Stansfield Church Restoration Committee and the whole village. To find out more click on the image.

Benefice Church of the day - Saturday

Saint Margaret's Stradishall: Stradishall Church has very close ties with the RAF base that used to exist in the village. Its history is less well documented than the other Benefice churches but boasts some very good mediaeval wall paintings. To find out more click on the image.

Benefice Church of the day - Sunday

All Saints' Church Wickhambrook: This is the largest church in the Bansfield Benefice. In parts this church is over a 1000 years old. It is Grade I listed and underwent extensive restoration thanks to major grants from English Heritage. To find out more click on the image.

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