SUSSEX HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST
Crouchers
Birdham Road
Apuldram
Chichester
PO20 7EQ
January 2014
Dear Organiser,
SHCT 2013 Ride & Stride
I am very pleased to tell you that over £55,000 was raised in 2013, which is an increase over the previous year, thanks to the efforts of all the organisers and of course those who took part. There were about 350 adults and 70 under 16’s from about 140 churches and chapels who took part across Sussex, and I want to thank you all for your efforts that achieved these excellent results. It is interesting to note that we now have just over 15% of the churches taking part that are non Church of England.
It would appear, therefore, that our policy of splitting some of the larger areas is paying off, as organisers can spend more time concentrating on a smaller number of churches. We have recently split Crawley and East Grinstead, with Michael Hewens taking on East Grinstead, and also James Tolson has taken over Storrington. However, we still need more volunteer organisers for areas such as Arundel & Littlehampton, part of Worthing, and of course for Hastings and St Leonards, as I would hope that with a full team we can increase the number of churches taking part, and therefore raise even more money.
Whilst the Ride & Stride event is scheduled to last from 9 am to 6 pm, a number of churches have said that they get few, if any, visitors after 5 pm and so we have decided to close at 5 pm from 2014 and this change has been agreed with our insurers.
The new trifold colour leaflets are available and are being distributed to all churches at the time of the Archdeacons visitations. We have received a number of requests from participants for suggested routes that they could take for the Ride & Stride and the area organisers are seeing how this can be achieved. We are also looking at ways of increasing the pre event publicity during the summer, including using the Diocesanebulletin to remind churches about the event. We have also contacted the organisers of Heritage open days to jointly publicise our two events as they take place on the same weekend. Unfortunately they are not able to publicise details of which particular churches in Sussex are taking part.
I am pleased that the online activities are increasing thus saving time and effort for those involved. More churches are registering online, with a significant number doing so in February which is excellent. However there is still a way to go to get all registered online, and by the due date. Details of all grants given by the Trust will be included on the website so that those taking part can see the results of their efforts. However, I am receiving more complaints from participants that some churches have not honoured their commitment to take part on the day and I am urging organisers to follow up on this point, as it is so disappointing to plan a route only to find the church is closed and there is no sign in sheet.
This year has seen a 60% increase in the amount raised through justgiving, from £2029 last year to £3,250, with a corresponding increase in the number of participants. In fact of all the county trusts, Sussex is 2nd in the amount raised via justgiving. With the planned website redesign, links to Facebook and Twitter will be added.
The winner of the under 16’s cyclists trophy was Luke Ullyott from St Bartholomew’s, Rogate with 128 stars, the runner up being Billy Chubb from St Richard’s, Slindon with 75 stars. Nellie Hannam, from St Luke’s, Stone Cross, won the walkers trophy with 37 stars, with Anya, Brooke, and Kyleton Harman from St Peter the Hydneye, Eastbourne, as joint runners up with 31 stars. The under 16’s cyclists team trophy was won by the 2nd Bognor Sea Scout Groupfrom Our Lady of Sorrows, Bognor Regis with70 stars, with 1st Felpham Sea Scouts, from St Mary’s, Felpham, runners up with 42 stars.
Nicholas Jameson-Allen, from St Luke’s, Stone Cross, won the individual cyclists trophy with 159 stars, with Neil Stanfield from St Peter’s, Cowfold, as runner up with 100 stars. Simon Lade, from St Luke’s Stone Cross, won the individual walkers trophy gaining 74 stars, followed by Jill Wilson from St Peter’s, West Blatchington with 61 stars as the runner up.
The “Fishbourne Flyers” from St Peter & St Mary, Fishbourne, with 89 stars won the team cyclists trophy, just beating the “Woolbeding Wheelers” from All Hallows, Woolbeding as runners up with 86 stars. ”Jimmy’s Team” from St James, Birdham with 32 stars won the walkers team trophy, with St Andrews Walkers, from St Andrews, Bishopstone, with 24 stars being the runners up.
Lucy Murdoch from St Andrew and St Mary, Fletching, raised £905 but Pamela Wade from St John the Evangelist, Eastbourne, raised an incredible £1558 and thus receives the Special award once again.
The award ceremony will be held at St Andrew & St Cuthman, Steyning on Saturday 1 March 2014 at 2 pm when the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, Mrs Susan Pyper, will present the trophies and certificates, when we again present certificates to all who took part and also the Recorders for the first time.
A sincere thank you to all of you who have helped throughout the year and of course to all those who took part, and we look forward to an even more successful event on Saturday 13 September this year.
Graham Pound
CountyOrganiser
01243 788265
Distribution: Chairman and Archdeacons
Divisional, Area, Parish & Local Organisers
Secretary and Treasurer
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