Three years ago, 12 out of 12 were open, and two years ago I think 10 out of 12 were open.
This year would be a different experience.
That is because, some churches are locked all the time outside services, even on Ride and Stride, their only concession is to have the charity signing sheet pinned to a door or in the porch. Maybe some refreshments for the riders and striders, but it seems the days of most churches being open are long gone.
Maybe I was unlucky. But Boughton-Under-Blean, Great Chart, Little Chart were among those locked fast today.
So bad was the experience, with the weather as well, I might not bother next year.
Having walked to the door of Great Chart, a church in a large village on the outskirts of Ashford, there was no wardens, and the church locked, though refreshments available, but again no one came to refresh the used glasses.
The plan was to end at Brookland to see inside the triple candlesnuff tower, but three hours on the Marsh, with most churches visited several times, I gave in and came home.
I got back at quarter to four, there was a brew waiting, andI had bought a couple of small Bakewells from Tesco when I called in to buy pizza for dinner.
I had woken up at seven, with the sound of heavy rain outside. There was even a few rumbles of thunder. The clouds so low and thick that we need the table light on to see.
I made final touches to my plans for the day. Jools was going to stay home. Maybe not get dressed.
I left just after nine, rain was falling steadily. I made my way to the A2, then up to Barham where I turned towards Wigham, before turning off at Addisham.
Addisham is a nice church. Old, but they had replaced the heating and floor a decade back, and it was open as part of Heritage weekend, this one should have been open.
It was, and whilst I took shots of details, I chatted with the two wardens, one of whom remembered my from my previous visit a decade back.
When I left the church, I saw a torrential downpour had started, and the road I parked on had turned into a river. I got soaked in the 15 yards back to the car, and feet wet from the road.
I decided to not go to Hackington in Canterbury, that would require using endless back lanes. Instead I drove back to the A2, then north in driving rain to Boughton-Under-Blean.
Boughton is not often found open, but I battled the partially flooded lanes and traffic forcing me off the road, arriving at the church with the rain coming down just as hard.
I used an umbrella, walked up the path under the trees, meaning it seemed even darker. None of the three doors was unlocked, with the Ride and Stride sheet pinned to the west door, and no refreshments for the riders and striders.I went back to the car, and decided to head north to find dry weather. Back to the A2, then up to the services for a comfort break and two sausage rolls from Greggs.
Refreshed, and the clouds having parted and blue sky seen, soon sunshine brightened everything.
I had to get through the traffic at the top of Bluebell Hill, then down the A229, before turning off north to get to the banks of the Medway.
I thought I recognised the new road to Burham. It was being built last time I was here. I parked outside, and upon entering I recognised the wooden wheel from the tower for the bells, now hung on the north wall.
I took shots anyway, as I was there. But I now doubted the next church, Wouldham: had I been there before too?
It was a ten minute drive through the narrow streets of the village, but I arrived at the church. Good news was that I did not recognise it.
I walked to the door, turned the handle, and found it locked.
A voice came from inside:
Who is it, what do you want?
I thought the church would be open, I take photographs.
The door opened.
No, the church isn't open today, would you like to come in to take shots?
That would be great, thanks.
Meetings like this is what churchcrawling is all about. We talked long about this and that, and I got my shots. The church though interesting from the outside with its offset tower, but quite plain on the inside.
I set course for Thurnham, a church I have never found open. I sighed and made my way back to the 229, then down to the M20, before turning east for one junction to Detling.
Next village along is Thurnham, and driving past the pub I could see the church just through the trees below. I turned down the hill, and parked beside a hedge between two mansions. There is a path leading between the large houses to the church.
I walked along to the gate into the churchyard, a bike was parked by the open porch door. A good sign.Indeed the church was open, I walked in with a huge smile, and the warden was equally pleased to see another visitor.
I explained I had been here on six previous occasions and found it locked, but this was a red letter day as it was open.
I talked for a while with the warden and a rider, who was taking a break. We talk about churches and their fittings.
Little did I know, this was the last church of the day. That would be open.
I was going to go to Hothfield, but the road to the church was closed, so I drove on to Little Chart for the 20th century church there.
I struggled to find it, having driven past it in the rain without realising. Without getting out of the car, I could see a cool box and the Ride and Stride form on it.
This wasn't open either.
My mood got even lower.
Final chance was Great Chart.
Great Chart is a big village on the edge of Ashford, surely there would be wardens and it be open? If it wasn't, I told myself, I would go home.
I parked opposite, walked over in steady rain and found the usual sheet and squash in the porch. The inner door locked.
Bugger it.
I held my promise and turned for home through Ashford to the motorway. It was twenty past two, and the radio went through previews of the games to come.
I called in at Tesco for pizza so I would not have to do much for dinner, then home where Jools had a fresh brew waiting.
Norwich were already one up at Coventry, but were being made to work hard, and as Cambridge conceded a 96th minute equaliser, so did Norwich. We might have taken 1-1 at the start of the day, and we were outplayed, it still feels like a point lost.
After pizza and beer there was an evening of football, as the autumnal chill filled the house.
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