Posted by Steve Davies, Vicar of Heacham
Photos courtesy of St Marys Church, Heacham
Twelve months ago I marked Saturday 10th September 2011 in my diary in an attempt to keep the day clear. In 2009, on the corresponding Saturday, for the first time in this area I had participated in the Norfolk Churches Trust Sponsored Bike Ride. Last year, on the second Saturday in September, I was officiating at a wedding, hence the plan to keep the day in 2011 free from other business. The weather in 2009 was misleading: some cloud, temperatures around 19°C and no wind. It was different this year when the wind blew in typical Norfolk fashion; it made the day significantly harder.
This annual event raises money to support the many churches in our area. Half of the money raised goes to the Norfolk Historic Churches Trust; half directly to the home church of the cyclist or walker – you are allowed to travel on foot.
I had wondered whether I could visit all the churches in the Deanery, i.e. the local grouping of Anglican Churches (except the ruins). It sounded a good idea at the time when the air was still and the day far away. I did try to be reasonably sensible and planned a route that gave me a get out clause. When I got to Docking I could turn left and home to Heacham or turn right and continue to Stanhoe, Burnham Deepdale and all points along the coast.
On my way I came across churches where there was someone to welcome and refresh; others where refreshment was available for the traveller, others where the door was open but no sign of anything else and some where the doors were locked and no one was in sight. It struck me as a parable for our church times.
The journey was uneventful. The motorised road traffic was considerate; throughout the day no one cut me up – not always the case when riding a bike.
I started by getting to Ringstead shortly after 9am. It would have been 9am except I had to return to the house to pick up what I had forgotten. On to Sedgeford, Fring and multiple other points all the way to Docking and decision time. I turned right. By that point I felt better than I had done an hour earlier.
Approximately 61 miles after leaving Heacham I returned to my home church and the final signing in point just on 5pm in great need of a shower and rest. I had visited the 26 Anglican churches (and one other). I felt quite pleased when I got home, showered and sat down and did not feel too bad. Then I tried to get up.
The Deanery has many churches all of which require upkeep. We can talk about our church buildings as millstones round our necks. The weight of them drags us down. Perhaps we should remember that active millstones, driven by the wind (or other means) ground the grain that produced the flour that was baked into bread that fed the people.
Churches today, driven by the wind of the Spirit, can still feed the people. The picture from Ingoldisthorpe reminds us that the people are the church. It is through the people that God takes his word to the world to feed the hungry.
When I talked to my son about what I had done this was his response: “You should not be looking to cover more miles than your age and the greater the age the fewer miles you should be doing!” So spoke one who had just completed the Three Peaks Challenge and who has been far fitter than his Dad for many years.
It is true that age takes its toll. Perhaps a few years ago I would have been less troubled by the wind that always seemed to be in my face regardless of my direction of travel. As I pushed up yet another incline it was obvious that age was not just in the mind. At times our journey is hard; sometimes we will feel lonely and find locked doors. At other times our companions will endow the journey with great joy. I pray we will welcome fellow travellers and encourage each other to feed.
