Ride, Stride & Sail is a celebration of Cornwall’s historic churches, its landscape and its communities. Each September, participants across the county set out to visit churches, enjoy the countryside and raise funds for the preservation of Cornwall’s remarkable sacred heritage.
What is Ride, Stride & Sail?
Ride, Stride & Sail is based on the National Churches Trust’s largest annual fundraising event, delivered locally by county Historic Churches Trusts.
Participants — whether cyclists, walkers, runners, sailors, horse riders or wheelchair users — seek sponsorship to visit churches of their choosing between 10am and 6pm on either or both days.
There are no fixed start or finish points, and no minimum or maximum distance. Individuals, families and groups alike are warmly encouraged to take part.
Where traditional riding or striding may be less practical, creativity is welcome. Sponsored activities could include a static cycle challenge at a church, a swim or row, a bell tower tour, or walking to a church event such as a coffee morning.
At its heart, the weekend is about participation, fellowship and community.
This is part of a nationwide initiative (ridestride.org), but delivered locally.
50% of funds raised are returned directly to the participant’s chosen church, with the remaining 50% supporting CHCT’s grant programme for the repair and maintenance of Cornwall’s historic churches.
When is it?
Ride, Stride & Sail for Cornwall churches will take place Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026. Participants may take part on either, or indeed both days.
For Participants:
Thank you for your interest in taking part! To get you started, please refer to the Guide for Participants. We encourage everyone to raise sponsorship through JustGiving using the Trust’s 2026 campaign page, rather than setting up a personal fundraising page.
This makes it much easier for our book-keeping team to track donations and attribute sponsorship to the correct church. When creating a JustGiving page, please use a log-in name in the following format (as one word, with no spaces): villagechurchnameinitialschurchserial You will find the church serial number in the Church Record List downloadable below.
Pledges can also be recorded on the Sponsorship Form for anyone who prefers to give cash or a cheque.
On the day, participants should take the Record of Visits form with them and have it signed at each church they visit.
- Guide for Participants
- Sponsorship Form
- Record of Visits (coming soon)
- Church record list (if your Church is not currently on here, please email and we will amend)
For Church Representatives
Please display the poster with contact details to display from mid-June so that anyone intending (or thinking) of taking part knows the event is happening.
Participants are encouraged to team up in twos and threes (or as whole families) to share the fun of a great day out in the countryside.
As the event approaches, local publicity can be refreshed with smaller posters, which echo the large roadside boards that Area Representatives will put up in late August.
The Register of Visitors to Churches and an Apology Notice complete the pack, along with a handout for potential participants.
Once the event is over, Church Representatives should gather in any cash and cheques, then complete the Financial Management Form and Remittance Form. These must be submitted (in one remittance) to the Treasurer no later than 1 Dec 26. The sooner sponsorship is sent in, the sooner churches can receive their 50% share back.
- Guide for Participants
- Poster to display from mid June
- Register of Visitors
- Apology Notice
- Handout for Potential Participants (coming soon)
- Financial Management Form
- Remittance Form
The Cornish Saints’ Route
For 2026 we have developed a distinctive Cornish Saints’ Route featuring parish churches whose patron saints are closely associated with Cornwall’s early Christian heritage.
The route reflects Cornwall’s unique spiritual identity while maintaining a coherent west–east journey across the county.
Wherever possible the route avoids major roads such as the A30 and favours quieter lanes and traditional parish connections, making the journey both inspiring and practical for modern participants.
The Bishop’s Trophy
The Bishop’s Trophy will be awarded annually to the church that has, in the opinion of the Trustees, made the greatest achievement in the event; in addition to the Trophy, they will receive 100% of the funds raised by their participants.
St Piran’s Challenge (Running Club Relay)
Alongside the general Ride • Stride • Sail activity, Cornwall Historic Churches Trust is launching a new challenge for running clubs.
The St Piran’s Challenge is a relay across Cornwall following the Cornish Saints’ Route from St Sennen’s Church to St Germans Priory, visiting all 19 churches along the way – approximately 100 miles across the county.
Teams relay runners between churches, passing a magnetic tracking baton between checkpoints. The club completing the full route in the shortest time will win the event trophy, named after our corporate sponsor.
Ride, walk, cycle, sail — or invent your own way to take part. Ride • Stride • Sail is about exploring Cornwall, celebrating its churches and helping preserve them for future generations.