Report from Judith Stiles of St Peter’s Church, Bexhill-on-Sea

“Saw your picture in the Observer.” With so many people greeting me with those words in the week leading up to the sponsored cycle ride, the pressure was really on to cycle further and raise more money than we had done in previous years. Little did Richard, Andrew and Peter know what I had in mind as Saturday September 8th dawned misty and cool despite the forecast being for bright sunshine.

This year the main problem was trying to fit my planned ride into the allotted time (9am-6pm) so we left home soon after 8.30 in order to be in Pevensey Bay as soon after 9 as we could. After visiting the churches in Pevensey, Westham and Stone Cross we headed across the marshes to Herstmonceux, a church we had not previously been able to fit into our itinerary. We received a warm welcome from the “flower ladies” who assured us it was perfectly possible to get our bikes along the 1066 footpath in front of Herstmonceux Castle as a short cut to Wartling. It was - just - but involved some close encounters with stinging nettles and a series of steps but luckily no stiles (apart from each other).

From Wartling we cycled via Bodle Street Green to Dallington. With the village perched 156 metres above sea level it was a bit of a struggle especially for me, but well worth it as the church was beautifully decorated for a village wedding, complete with arches of flowers over the gateway and the porch. It looked like a scene from a Thomas Hardy novel.

Refreshed by a picnic in Brightling churchyard, we pushed on to Penhurst and Ashburnham before the rather long, dull haul into Battle. Then it was back onto familiar cycling territory via Catsfield (where we always receive such a warm welcome) to Ninfield and then Hooe. Time was by now running short so we decided to brave the A259 marsh road into Little Common. It was a terrifying experience as the cars raced past us and we were grateful to reach the section of cycle path which exists on at least a short section of that road.

I think all the Bexhill churches had given up hope of us visiting them this year, but I can assure anyone who reads this that we did visit all 9 of you, ending at St Michaels where Fr David tore himself away from the rugby on TV to sign our form!

We finally staggered home at 6.30 having cycled 62 miles over 10 hours, visiting 25 churches. Well done Richard, Andrew and Peter for cycling so well and for showing patience with your increasingly slow mother. Thank you too, to all those who sponsored us so generously, enabling us to raise £426 to be divided equally between Sussex Historic Churches Trust and St Peters Church.

Will we be able to beat that next year?

Judith Stiles