Diocese of Chichester

Revd Marcus Collie, vicar of Midhurst and Rector of All Hallows, Woolbeding, has completed an extraordinary five‑day motorbike pilgrimage, praying in 100 churches across Sussex and raising vital funds for Ride + Stride and the Sussex Historic Churches Trust.

Starting on Monday 24 August at the 12th‑century parish church of St Mary’s in Rye, Marcus rode his Suzuki V‑Strom east to west, finishing at Chichester Cathedral after visiting a century of historic churches in just five days. The journey took him through towns and villages across the Diocese of Chichester, pausing at churches that have long been at the heart of local community life and in many cases, beneficiaries of the Trust’s grants for repairs and restoration.

Marcus undertook the pilgrimage under the banner of Ride + Stride, our annual event that encourages people to travel by bike, foot, or other human power to visit churches and raise money for their upkeep. Nationally, Ride + Stride raises more than £1.5 million each year, with funds split 50:50 between participating churches and their county Historic Churches Trust. In Sussex, that money supports everything from urgent roof repairs and bell restoration to conservation work that keeps these buildings open and usable for worship, events, and community activities.

By choosing an ambitious, high‑profile challenge, Marcus has helped draw attention to the importance of these historic buildings and the ongoing need for support. His ride also ties directly into the Trust’s work: many of the 100 churches he visited have previously received grants for vital repairs, making his pilgrimage a rolling celebration of the very projects Ride + Stride helps to fund.

Marcus, who became vicar of Midhurst and Rector of All Hallows, Woolbeding in 2023, is no stranger to creative fundraising. After breaking his foot in 2024, he organised a “Ride and Hobble”, leading a group of parishioners who use mobility aids on a gentle route through Midhurst, finishing with refreshments in church. This year, he swapped walking aids for a motorbike, but kept the same spirit of community, prayer, and practical support for local churches.

Marcus’s achievement has already reached a wide audience thanks to two prominent interviews:

• ITV Meridian featured his story in a dedicated news segment, highlighting the scale of visiting 100 churches in just five days and the fundraising purpose behind the ride.itv
  Watch the segment here: The Rev. Marcus Collie visited 100 churches in just 5 days – ITV Newsitv
• BBC Sussex Radio gave Marcus an early‑morning platform to explain the spiritual motivation for the pilgrimage, the route, and how people can support Ride + Stride and the Trust. Listen to the interview here (BBC Sounds): Revd Marcus Collie on BBC Sussexfacebook

The coverage has helped amplify the Ride + Stride message beyond church communities, reaching cyclists, motorcyclists, and anyone interested in heritage, history, and local fundraising.

Chris Whittick, chair of the Sussex Historic Churches Trust, described Marcus’s initiative as “one of the most ambitious Ride + Stride fundraising activities we’ve heard about”, and said the Trust is “incredibly grateful” that Marcus chose it as a beneficiary.

For Marcus, the ride was more than a physical challenge: it was a prayerful journey through the spiritual landscape of Sussex, stopping to give thanks, reflect, and ask for blessing on the people who keep these churches alive, through worship, volunteering, music, and community events.

How to support the work

Ride + Stride day this year is Saturday 12 September, but donations and participation are welcome throughout the season. Funds raised support both individual churches and the wider work of the Sussex Historic Churches Trust, which provides grants for urgent repairs, conservation, and projects that help historic churches remain open and useful for future generations.

If you were inspired by Marcus’s pilgrimage and would like to support the cause, you can find out more about Ride + Stride and how to get involved via the Sussex Historic Churches Trust website here and you can donate specifically to Marcus’s fundraiser on Give a Little or use the QR code:

Huge congratulations to Marcus on completing this remarkable journey, and thank you for riding, praying, and fundraising for Sussex’s historic churches.