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ON THE SECOND Saturday of September, all over England, gallant sponsored cyclists and walkers were busy making their annual pilgrimages from church to church and chapel to chapel to raise money for the repair and restoration of those iconic buildings.
Here in Bucks, where the weather was good for most of the day, a team from Marlow Methodist Church expressed their gratitude for a grant recently received from the Bucks. Historic Churches Trust by tripling the amount of money they
raised in 2010.
Remarkable feats were achieved by individuals. Stewart Featherstone-Clark, from Bisham, cycled up hill and down dale, visiting no less than 39 churches. Even this total was exceeded by John Mitchell, Organiser for Amersham Deanery, who achieved his usual total of over 40, visiting churches at Tylers Green, Beaconsfield, the Chalfonts, Gerrards Cross, Iver,Slough and Windsor.
Half the money raised goes to the church or chapel of the participant's choice, the other half forming a fund which the Trust distributes to churches and chapels of any Christian denomination appealing for help, within the limit of its remit. From time to time I have the great pleasure of going round with the Inspection Committee as they examine stonework, roofs, windows, floors etc, deciding on the wisest way to distribute the funds at their disposal. There is always a lovely atmosphere on these occasions, and it is so satisfying to be able to help hard-pressed congregations. None of this would be possible without the huge effort put in by many hundreds of people each year: walkers and cyclists and their generous sponsors.
They, of course, are in the front line, but it is also important to remember the many, many people providing the back-up, without whom the event could not take place: church organisers, those who are on duty as welcomers, those who provide refreshments, the Deanery Organisers dealing with the sometimes tedious but essential paperwork, and last but not least, our Treasurer Laurie Johnson, signing all those delightful cheques.
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