Dorset Historic Churches Trust raised an amazing £110,000 – a record amount – with its annual Ride+Stride.

A spokesman said: “There was some considerable doubt about asking the charity’s members and friends to take part in a sponsored walk, cycle or canter in this challenging year with all its restrictions. But in the end the outcome has surpassed every previous year with this wonderful total raised.”

“The beautiful and historic church buildings of the county are in greater need of support than ever with incomes sharply down because of the pandemic. This heartening result means that more grants can be made to churches to repair leaking roofs, to prop up sagging walls and install better community facilities.”

The trust’s chairman John Stokoe said he is delighted:. “There was a point in the year when we considered calling off the whole event. “But we have been blessed with great supporters all over the county and I thank them all wholeheartedly.”

The trust hopes to encourage the move to make church buildings the centres of their communities – especially in rural areas where churches are often the oldest and largest structure in each town or village.

Over 160 parishes all round Dorset took part in the 2020 event, helped by a team of local organisers. Each parish is able to have 50% of the money raised by its efforts returned directly to its home church for its own use.

Sarah Mitchell and the Lampson family set off from Corscombe for the Ride +Stride 2020

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