Walking to discover Hampshire’s historic churches

For people who love exploring church buildings

Did you know that every year over 300 of Hampshire’s most historic and beautiful churches are open to visitors on Ride+Stride Day? What’s more some have refreshments, some have guides and all will allow you to glimpse beauty, art, history and interesting architecture inside and out.

Are you part of a walking group that would like to organise a tour of Hampshire churches near you on Saturday 14th September 2024?
Are you a walking leader wanting to take your group on ancient routes between historic churches and want to try a different walk?
Have you got friends that would like to join you in walking between churches and discovering Hampshire’s history and heritage this year?

As there are over 300 churches/chapels due to be open from 10 until 4, you can have fun choosing which will be part of your itinerary. Check here to see which of your local churches are participating on the day and plan your day on our maps.

Last year Ride+Stride in Hampshire raised £50,000 of sponsorship money, including Gift Aid to help our Hampshire churches. This money helps to fund repairs to the historic fabric and features of the church as well as urgent repairs such as retaining walls in graveyards, leaky roofs and the installation of facilities to make Hampshire’s historic churches, chapels and meeting house fit to serve local communities for future generations.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

Sign up for this years Ride + Stride event by going to the following page Ride + Stride Participant Registration

GoodHub is our fundraising platform enabling you to make fast and totally secure donations. Hampshire and the Islands Historic Churches Trust will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid will be added to your donation at no cost to you.

Download your sponsorship form here and information sheet. Any queries please contact the County Ride+Stride Coordinators [email protected] 

You can choose whether all the funds raised go to the Hampshire and the Islands Historic Trust, or whether half the money raised by each participant goes to a church of their choice; the other half going to the Trust along with any Gift Aid that can be claimed. In either case, all funds raised should be paid to the Trust.
Please be assured that ALL the money raised will be used to provide grants & loans to the region’s historic churches of all denominations for essential repairs and restoration work.

The Trust is a non-denominational charity which raises funds towards the upkeep of some 900 historic church buildings dating from the 8th to the 20th century. Since 1988, HIHCT has provided grants, conservatively estimated at about £1.25 million, to help repair, restore and maintain churches, their contents and churchyards. About 300 churches, chapels and meeting houses have benefitted so far.