Stroud residents are being invited to pull on their walking shoes, get on their bikes and explore the town’s rich heritage at Ride & Stride 2026 on Saturday, September 12.
The fundraising event will give people the chance to discover Stroud and Gloucestershire’s historic churches while supporting St Laurence Church: Stroud Centre for Peace and the Arts, its ambitious St Laurence Restored Project, and the work of the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust.
Participants can choose from an organised walking route around Stroud, a suggested cycle route, or create their own church-to-church Ride & Stride challenge anywhere in Gloucestershire. There will also be volunteer-led heritage walks around historic Stroud at 11am and 2pm, subject to availability, as well as a Victorian highlights walking trail.
Registration is free. Participants who are able are invited to make a voluntary donation, with a suggested contribution of £10, and to encourage friends and family to support their challenge through the event’s Give A Little fundraising campaign.
St Laurence Church will be open throughout the day, welcoming participants, supporters and visitors. Plans include refreshments, church tours, heritage displays, children’s activities and information about the St Laurence Restored Project, with further activities to be announced.
‘Ride & Stride is a great reason to get out and explore Stroud – whether that’s following our Victorian walking trail, joining one of our two guided walks or getting the family on their bikes and cycling from church to church,’ said Shannon Newton, Head of Fundraising for the St Laurence Restored Project.
‘We want it to be a really enjoyable day that brings people into St Laurence and gets them discovering more of the town around us.’
Shannon added: ‘Community support is incredibly important to St Laurence and the Restored Project. We have made enormous progress with the fundraising, but we still have that final amount to raise to make the project happen.
‘Ride & Stride gives people a really simple and enjoyable way to be part of that – and at the same time also support the Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust, which has been such a valuable supporter of St Laurence.’
The organisers are also looking for volunteers to help make the day a success. Opportunities include welcoming participants, serving refreshments, helping with registration, supporting guided walks, staffing information points and assisting with setting up and clearing away.
Ride & Stride 2026 takes place on Saturday 12 September.
For more information about taking part, volunteering or supporting the event, contact Shannon at fundraising@stlaurencestroud.uk.
