A report on the 2007 event by Gordon Smith, Eastbourne.

The Sussex Historic Churches Trust.
Ride and Stride
8th September 2007.

St. Mary's Parish Church, Old Town, Eastbourne.

Our Recorders were ready at 9 am to greet our first visitors, and at 10 am our Walkers were all ready for the Press Photograph and then for a Blessing from Father Charles with Holy Water, who also asked God to give us a safe journey. There were 16 Walkers, but sadly no cyclists, and we were transported to Folkington to commence our journey. St. Peter ad Vincula, Folkington, our first Church had laid on a splendid table of refreshments which set us up for our walk across the Downs. Apart from an excellent welcome from the Recorders the Vicar of Folkington also came in to talk to us.


We set off in high spirits as it was a delightful day and the scenery became more beautiful as we climbed a very moderate incline. Max and Ping Ping had their daughter with them aged 3 years who insisted on taking long detours across fields away from the path. After a short while we descended into more flat country which continued for the rest of the journey, and this was thanks to Janet Webber who had worked out the walk for us. The comment was made, "why don't we do this more often when we go for walks on our own?" We are so fortunate to live in such lovely area!


At Wilmington we saw the Long man, also from the bedroom window of Folkington Manor which was open. We had a very interesting tour of Folkington Manor and its surroundings before proceeding to St. Mary and St.Peters, Wilmington Street. We also had the good fortune to meet again the Vicar of Folkington and Wilmington with his dog a very friendly black Spaniel.

We then commenced our final journey over flat but interesting countryside to Alfriston. At Alfriston we sat down to a picnic lunch on the Tye. We then visited St. Andrews to get our Sponsor Forms signed and refreshments if needed. Some of us visited the Priests house which was the first property bought by the National Trust.


Michael and Graham and Ann had come over to join us for lunch, and were able to take the drivers back to Folkington to collect their cars and take the Walkers home from Alfriston.

The Recorders were still manning the Church when we returned and the last person to sign in was Marie Adams of St. Simon and St. Jude East Dean at 5.05 pm. We had 42 visitors during the day and the Recorders remained until 6 pm but there were no more visitors after 5.05 pm.

Please come and join us next year or suggest another equally interesting walk bearing in mind that the purpose is to visit Churches or places of Worship who stay open for the day.