Archdeacon gets on his bike for epic ride
An Archdeacon has begun an epic bike ride that will see him visit each of the 180 Anglican churches on his patch. The Ven Hugh McCurdy, Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech, started the 500-mile marathon in the Huntingdon deanery two weeks ago at Great Gi
An Archdeacon has begun an epic bike ride that will see him visit each of the 180 Anglican churches on his patch.
The Ven Hugh McCurdy, Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech, started the 500-mile marathon in the Huntingdon deanery two weeks ago at Great Gidding, having ridden from his home in Ely, and by the Saturday evening had 40 churches under his belt.
The 70-miles-a-day slog resumed last Friday, when he visited the 15 churches in the St Neots deanery. That will be followed by a similar number in the St Ives deanery, north of the river, on June 12.
June 17 and 18 will see him in the 25 churches of the Wisbech Lynne Marshland deanery, followed by the Fincham and Feltwell deanery on June 24 and 25.
He returns to churches in Sawtry and surrounding villages on June 29, concluding with the March and Ely areas in a saddle-sore July.
"Some people think I'm completely mad. Others want to join in," said the 51-year-old economist and former Vicar of Histon, who has been archdeacon since 2005.
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But he is no stranger to long-distance cycling, having recently completed the coast-to-coast ride between Whitehaven in Cumbria and Whitby in north Yorkshire. "The fish and chips in Whitby were wonderful at the end of that ride but, if I accepted all the hospitality I've been offered this time, I would have difficulty getting on the bike."
The charity marathon, which covers the whole of north Cambridgeshire and parts of south Norfolk, is to celebrate Ely Cathedral's 900 years at the heart of the Christian community.
The Hunts Post caught up with him at Fenstanton Parish Church on Saturday, May 2, where he is pictured with, from left, sub-churchwarden Philip Blunt, church council member Jane Blunt, churchwarden Martyn Saunders and treasurer Joy Saunders.
